The TRADITIONAL COLORS of JAPAN
TIMELESS BEAUTY
Mono no Aware
& the COLOR of TRANSIENCE
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Since ancient times, the Japanese people have nurtured an aesthetic sensibility that finds beauty in nature’s subtle transformations.
During the Heian period, the concept of mono no aware emerged—an appreciation for the fleeting nature of life and the quiet sadness found in impermanence. This sensibility gave rise to many poetic color names, each capturing a moment in time and a mood of the heart.
Here, we introduce some of these color names and their variations—expressions of the fragile beauty found in fading leaves.
DECAYED LEAF COLOR
KUCHIBA IRO ●
In the Heian period, the muted, subdued tone reminiscent of withered leaves came to be known as Kuchiba Iro( ● # 917347). ("decayed leaf color"). This color appeared in kasane no irome—the layered color combinations of courtly kimono—and was deeply cherished by the aristocracy. Kuchiba Iro is renowned for its rich gradations, said to encompass as many as "48 shades of Kuchiba." In France, a similar hue exists: Feuille Morte (●#B54232, literally “dead leaf”). Yet, unlike Kuchiba Iro, it lacks the nuanced variation and poetic sensibility found in Japanese tradition.
These subtle gradations reflect the refined aesthetic of mono no aware—the Heian court’s sensitivity to transience and impermanence—an emotional depth that continues to move our hearts today.
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VARIATIONS of KUCHIBA IRO
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The “48 shades of Kuchiba” include evocative color names such as Aka-Kuchiba (Red Decayed Leaf, ●#DB8449), Ki-Kuchiba (Yellow Decayed Leaf, ●#D3A243), Ao-Kuchiba (Blue Decayed Leaf, ●#ADA250), Usu-Kuchiba (Pale Decayed Leaf, ●#E4B267), and Ko-Kuchiba (Deep Decayed Leaf, ● #E07400).
For example, Aka-Kuchiba appears as the color of the jacket worn by a young noblewoman in Chapter 21, Otome (“The Maiden”), of The Tale of Genji.
One can vividly sense the Heian court’s refined aesthetic—wearing seasonal colors as a way of harmonizing with nature’s transitions.
Beyond the Heian period, many other poetic color names have emerged to express the beauty of seasonal change.
This delicate approach to color continues to inspire artists and maisons around the world, its timeless charm resonating across generations and cultures.
