What is the traditional Japanese color "ink color"?
Sumi-iro is a deep gray-black color like ink, and is considered to be the equivalent of koku (burnt) in the "Five Colors of Ink." It is characterized by a deep hue that is close to black, but with a slight grayish tinge. In addition to simply using ink for dyeing, plant-based materials such as oak and betel nut have also been utilized, and ingenuity has been developed throughout the ages. In the past, it was used for the clothing of monks and mourning clothes, and was considered a color symbolizing misfortune, but in modern times its use as decoration has expanded, and it is a traditional color that has been incorporated into the kimonos of samurai and townspeople.
Ink color = Sumiiro
Ink, the origin of the color name, is made by kneading high-quality soot made from burning rapeseed oil or pine with glue, adding fragrance, and solidifying it. In calligraphy and ink painting, expression that makes use of the shades of ink is important, and is deeply connected to Japanese aesthetic sense. "Ink color" is pronounced "sumi-iro."
DIC Traditional Japanese Colors: R28 G28 B28 #1C1C1C/Sumiiro (Ink Black)
What is “Learn about Japan’s traditional colors”?
We will also introduce beautiful traditional Japanese colors, how to read their kanji, and the background behind the colors. Let's enjoy together the Japanese sensibilities that have been passed down since ancient times.
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Learn about Japan's traditional colors
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