Product Description

New Edition Japanese Traditional Colors: Their Names and Tones

Discover the historical colors of Japan with New Edition Japanese Traditional Colors: Their Names and Tones, a comprehensive reference documenting 225 traditional Japanese colors from ancient times through the early modern period.

Colors appear throughout important Japanese historical texts and classical literature, including the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Man'yoshu, The Pillow Book, and The Tale of Genji.

For many years, however, the exact appearance of these historical colors could not be directly observed. Researchers often had to rely on written descriptions and historical records to reconstruct their appearance.

This book presents a systematic study of these traditional Japanese colors based on extensive historical research and practical dyeing tests.

225 Traditional Japanese Colors

The book examines 225 traditional Japanese colors, covering colors used from ancient Japan through the early modern period.

Each color entry includes information about:

• Traditional color name
• Color tone
• Dye materials
• Historical dyeing methods
• Historical development and changes in popularity
• Historical references and sources
• Munsell color values
• Color charts
• English color names

This makes the book both a historical reference and a practical resource for studying Japanese color.

Reconstructing Historical Japanese Colors

The author, Seiki Nagasaki, spent many years researching historical Japanese color references.

The colors in this book were examined using authoritative historical sources, including:

• Classical Japanese literature
• Historical documents
• Antique textile fragments
• Traditional dye sample books
• Historical color references

The research was further supported by actual dyeing experiments to verify and examine the resulting color tones.

This approach provides a detailed look at how traditional Japanese colors were understood, produced, and used throughout history.

From Ancient Colors to Early Modern Japan

The book explores the development of Japanese color culture across different historical periods.

It connects traditional colors with Japanese literature, textiles, dyeing practices, historical fashion, and changing aesthetic preferences.

The result is a valuable reference for understanding not only individual colors, but also the cultural and historical context behind them.

Practical Color Reference

To make the information easier to use, the book includes color charts and Munsell values alongside its historical research.

Additional reference materials include:

• Chronological tables of historical sources
• Japanese and Western color name comparison
• Reference bibliography
• English color names
• Color samples

This combination makes the book useful for both historical research and creative reference.

A Reference for Designers, Artists and Researchers

This book is particularly suitable for:

• Graphic designers
• Illustrators
• Textile designers
• Fashion designers
• Artists
• Color researchers
• Art historians
• Japanese culture researchers
• Students of design and art
• Japanese traditional craft enthusiasts

For contemporary creators, the book offers a deeper understanding of the historical colors that shaped Japanese visual culture.

About the Author

Seiki Nagasaki (1912–1995) was a Japanese scholar specializing in the history of Japanese color arts.

He graduated from the Design Department of Kyoto Municipal College of Painting, now Kyoto City University of Arts, and devoted his career to the study of Japanese color culture and history.

He served as an emeritus professor of Kyoto City University of Arts, professor at Saga University of Arts, and lecturer at the graduate school of Nara University of Education.

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