Japanese Colors
Colors / Black, White & Gray in Japan

Black, White & Gray in Japan

Sumi ink, unbleached ramie, and the hundred named grays of Edo iki. Neutral never meant characterless: rat-grays were high fashion, and mourning, tea ceremony, and calligraphy each kept their own blacks.

Raked gravel of the Zen garden at Kōdai-ji, Kyoto
Gray gravel and stones in dappled sunlight
Stone lantern in a Japanese garden in early summer
Tatami room opening onto a small courtyard garden

24 named colors, dark to light:

黒 Kuro 漆黒 Shikkoku 濡烏 Nuregarasu 呂色 Roiro 黒橡 Kurotsurubami 藍海松茶 Aimirucha 墨色 Sumi-iro 藍墨茶 Aisumicha 錆鉄御納戸 Sabitetsuonando 仙斎茶 Sensaicha 沈香茶 Tonocha 鈍色 Nibiiro 湊鼠 Minatonezumi 鉛色 Namariiro 錆青磁 Sabiseiji 灰色 Haiiro 利休鼠 Rikyūnezu 鼠色 Nezumiiro 薄墨色 Usuzumiiro 銀鼠 Ginnezumi 銀色 Giniro 卯の花色 Unohanairo 乳白色 Nyūhakushoku 白 Shiro