Kuchinashiiro
A yellow with a slight blush of red, dyed from the fruit of the gardenia. Soft and warm, it carries the plant's name — kuchinashi — into the wardrobe of traditional yellows.
How it was dyed in 927
The Engishiki — the court regulations completed in 927 — records exactly what the palace dyehouse was allotted to dye this color. Quantities are per bolt of cloth; units are left in the original (1 kin ≈ 600 g, 1 shō ≈ 0.7 L in later standards — Heian equivalents are debated).
黄支子 きくちなし Yellow gardenia
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
浅支子 あさくちなし Pale gardenia
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
Original text 原文
黄支子綾一疋、支子一斗、薪卅斤、帛一疋、支子八升、薪廿斤、糸一絇、支子三升、薪廿斤、
浅支子綾一疋、支子二升、紅花小三両、酢一合、藁半囲、薪卅斤、帛一疋、支子三升、紅花小三両、酢八夕、藁小半囲、薪六斤、糸一絇、支子七合、紅花小一両、酢五夕、藁小半囲、薪三斤、
Text: 『デジタル延喜式』校訂文（縫殿寮）, National Museum of Japanese History · 1900 printed edition (NDL)
Tints & shades
Harmonies within the tradition
Complementary and triadic companions, chosen from real traditional colors — not computed values.
Similar colors
The namesake
クチナシの実 — what the name literally points to.
