What is the traditional Japanese color "Kutsubairo"?
The brownish yellow-orange color of decaying fallen leaves is known as 'decaying leaf color'. Originally a general term covering a wide range of colors, it was dyed using gardenia and kariyasu, and sometimes with the addition of safflower, purple root, or indigo. This resulted in a wide variety of derivative colors, such as yellow decayed leaf, blue decayed leaf, red decayed leaf, dark decayed leaf, and light decayed leaf, and it is a traditional color with such a wide variety that it is sometimes referred to as the "48 colors of decayed leaves." The color name has been used since the Heian period, and appears in the Tale of Utsubo, where it was incorporated into the clothing of aristocrats.
Fallen leaf color = beak color
In the world of haiku, "decaying leaves" is used as a seasonal word for autumn, and is a familiar word that expresses the loneliness and melancholy of late autumn. "Cut leaves color" is pronounced "kuchibairo."
DIC Traditional Japanese Colors: R226 G148 B59 #E2943BC / Fallen Leaves
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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