Suōiro
Suoiro is the color obtained by dyeing with sappanwood: a red tinged with black, deep and slightly somber, the wood's dye lending it a distinctive wine-dark cast.
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).
深蘇芳 こきすおう Deep sappanwood
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 bolt of silk for resist-dyeing · 1 skein of silk thread.
中蘇芳 なかすおう Medium sappanwood
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
浅蘇芳 あさすおう Pale sappanwood
The Engishiki also gives scaled quantities for: 1 bolt of plain silk · 1 skein of silk thread.
Original text 原文
深蘇芳綾一疋、蘇芳大一斤、酢八合、灰三斗、薪一百廿斤、帛一疋、蘇芳大十両、酢七合、灰二斗、薪六十斤、纈帛一疋、蘇芳大十両、酢七合、灰二斗、薪六十斤、糸一絇、蘇芳小十三両、酢二合、灰六斗、薪廿斤、
中蘇芳綾一疋、蘇芳大八両、酢六合、灰二斗、薪九十斤、帛一疋、蘇芳大六両、酢三合、灰一斗五升、薪卌斤、糸一絇、蘇芳大二両、酢一合、灰五升、薪廿斤、
浅蘇芳綾一疋、蘇芳小五両、酢一合、灰八升、薪六十斤、帛一疋、蘇芳小三両、酢五夕、灰五升、薪卌斤、糸一絇、蘇芳小一両、酢三夕、灰二升、薪廿斤、
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
蘇芳 スオウ 染料 — what the name literally points to.
