{
  "schema": "colorcombinations-learn/v1",
  "generated": "2026-04-27T21:30:46.158Z",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "The Dictionary of Color Combinations",
    "url": "https://colorcombinations.org/",
    "@id": "https://colorcombinations.org/#organization"
  },
  "article": {
    "slug": "japanese-reds",
    "type": "pillar",
    "readingOrder": 2,
    "title": "The Four Reds: Kurenai, Akane, Shu, Entan",
    "description": "Why Japanese tradition distinguishes safflower crimson from madder from vermilion from lead red — and which to reach for when the brief asks for 'a Japanese red.'",
    "eyebrow": "The named pigments",
    "readingTime": "5 min",
    "tags": [
      "Reds",
      "Pigments",
      "Heian"
    ],
    "wordCount": 740,
    "datePublished": "2026-04-25T00:00:00Z",
    "outline": [
      "Kurenai — safflower crimson",
      "Akane — madder root",
      "Shu — cinnabar lacquer",
      "Entan — lead orange-red",
      "Working framework: which red, when"
    ],
    "citedTerms": [
      {
        "term": "kurenai",
        "pronunciation": "ku-re-na-i",
        "meaning": "Safflower-red pigment used for ceremonial silk."
      },
      {
        "term": "akane",
        "pronunciation": "a-ka-ne",
        "meaning": "Madder-root red — earthier, deeper than kurenai."
      },
      {
        "term": "shu",
        "pronunciation": "shu",
        "meaning": "Cinnabar (mercury sulfide) lacquer red used on shrine gates."
      },
      {
        "term": "entan",
        "pronunciation": "en-tan",
        "meaning": "Lead-tetroxide orange-red used on temple architecture and armour."
      }
    ],
    "relatedSlugs": [
      "heian-court-color-theory",
      "japanese-color-glossary"
    ],
    "url": "https://colorcombinations.org/learn/japanese-reds/",
    "api": "https://colorcombinations.org/api/learn/japanese-reds.json",
    "openGraph": "https://colorcombinations.org/og/learn/japanese-reds.svg",
    "relatedUrls": [
      {
        "slug": "heian-court-color-theory",
        "url": "https://colorcombinations.org/learn/heian-court-color-theory/",
        "api": "https://colorcombinations.org/api/learn/heian-court-color-theory.json"
      },
      {
        "slug": "japanese-color-glossary",
        "url": "https://colorcombinations.org/learn/japanese-color-glossary/",
        "api": "https://colorcombinations.org/api/learn/japanese-color-glossary.json"
      }
    ]
  },
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "source": "colorcombinations.org editorial",
  "indexUrl": "https://colorcombinations.org/api/learn.json"
}