Hey Junkies!
The Japanese language allowed for the creation of some really awesome, subtle and gentle colors. And I’m not talking about “Tickle me pink” type of colors. These kind of colors are heavily used in literature (Tales of Genji, for one) t0 paint the subtle, vague, yet unexplainable meaningful images the Japanese can be known for.
For a full list of traditional Japanese colors (and there are a lot) be sure to check Wikipedia. Wikipedia – Traditional colors of Japan In the mean time, here’s a small selection…
27 Uncommon Japanese Colors You Might Not Know
1. 中紅 – Purplish Medium Crimson
- 中紅
- なかべに
- Nakabeni
2. 青竹色 – Bamboo blue
- 青竹色
- あおたけいろ
- Aotake-iro
3. 今様色 – Purplish Vibrant Pink
- 今様色
- いまよういろ
- Imayo-iro
4. 唐紅 – Crimson
- 唐紅
- からくれない
- Karakurenai
5. 京緋色 – Kyoto scarlet
- 京緋色
- きょうひーろ
- Kyo-hiiro
6. 朱 – Vermillion
- 朱
- しゅ
- Shu
7. 甚三紅 – Light Pink
- 甚三紅
- じんざもみ
- Jinzamomi
8. 深緋色 – Deep scarlet
- 深緋色
- こきひいろ
- Kokihi-iro
9. 縹色 – Clear pale blue
- 縹色
- はなだいろ
- Hanada-iro
10. 藍白 – Indigo white
- 藍白
- あいじろ
- Aijiro
11. 薄紅 – Pale rouge
- 薄紅
- うすべに
- Usubeni
12. 常磐色 – Deep green
- 常磐色
- ときわいろ
- Tokiwa-iro
13. 丁子茶 – Light beige with a hint of red
- 丁子茶
- ちょうじちゃ
- Cho-ji-cha
14. 躑躅色 – Rhododendron Pink
- 躑躅色
- つつじいろ
- Tsutsuji-iro
15. 藤紫 – Wisteria purple or Royal Blue
- 藤紫
- ふじむらさき
- Fuji-murasaki
16. 真朱色 – Dusty Red
- 真朱色
- まそひいろ
- Masoho-iro
17. 梅紫 – Plum purple
- 梅紫
- いめむらさき
- Ume-murasaki
18. 淡萌黄 – Pale young greenish yellow
- 淡萌黄
- うすもえぎ
- Usumoegi
19. 赤錆色 – Red rust color
- 赤錆色
- あかさびいろ
- Akasabi-iro
20. 浅葱色 – Pale Blue Green
(Deeper than water but lighter than flower)
- 浅葱色
- あさぎいろ
- Asagi-iro
21. 月白 – Moon White
- 月白
- げっぱく
- Geppaku
22. 猩々緋 – Red Orange
- 猩々緋
- しょうじょうひ
- Shojohi
23. 七両染 – Dyeing red with safflowers
- 七両染
- しちりょうそめ
- Shichi-ryo-some
24. 一斤染 – Pale Pink
- 一斤染
- いっこんぞめ
- Ikkon-zome
25. 麹塵色 – Darker shade of green
- 麹塵色
- きくじんいる
- kikujin-iro
26. 黄朽葉色 – Reddish Yellow (Color of a dead & fallen leaf)
- 黄朽葉色
- きくちばいろ
- kikuchiba-iro
27. 紫苑色 – Pale Purple
- 紫苑色
- しおんいろ
- Shion-iro
Note, this isn’t the complete extensive list. Wikipedia has ’em all. But based on the amount of pinks and purples you see here, you can see just how subtle the Japanese colors are.
What’s your favorite one?
Am I missing any more?
Be sure to let me know and leave a comment!
– The Main Junkie