Collection · 23 palettes

Indigo Color Palettes

From ruri to kon — the deep blue tradition of Japanese textile.

Indigo ran through every layer of Japanese material culture — firefighter coats, farmer workwear, samurai underlayers, Edo merchant uniforms. The palette has dozens of named gradations: hanada (pale), ai (true), kon (dark), ruri (lapis). These combinations draw on that entire range, paired with the neutrals and accents that actually appeared alongside indigo in the historical record.

Heian era

Crimson & Navy— 紅と紺

Deep safflower crimson against navy — the courtly contrast of Heian-era robes and formal Edo textiles.

Edo era

Pale Blue & Vermillion— 浅葱と朱

The faded blue of Shinsengumi jackets against shrine-gate vermillion — restrained power.

Kamakura era

Ultramarine & Chalk White— 群青と胡粉

The deep ultramarine of Buddhist mineral pigment against temple chalk white.

Edo era

Indigo Blue & Silver— 縹と銀

Mid-grade indigo with the quiet sheen of silver — an understated Edo merchant robe.

Meiji era

Deep Indigo & Cream— 紺と生成

The darkest indigo against unbleached cream — the color of a Meiji schoolboy's uniform.

Heian era

Wisteria & Indigo— 藤と藍

The soft lavender of wisteria blossoms against deep indigo.

Heian era

Lapis & Chalk— 瑠璃と胡粉

Lapis lazuli blue against oyster-shell white — the color of Buddhist scripture.

Edo era

Turmeric & Indigo— 鬱金と藍

Warm turmeric yellow against true indigo — the everyday textile of Japanese farm life.

Heian era

Ao & White— 青と白

The classical Japanese 'ao' — an ambiguous blue-green — against pure white.

Edo era

Sky Blue & Vermillion— 空と朱

Clear sky blue against shrine-gate vermillion — a New Year morning.

Showa era

Benzol Green & Grayish Lavender - A

Plate 15 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Benzol Green, Grayish Lavender - A.

Showa era

Calamine BLue & Laelia Pink

Plate 20 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Calamine BLue, Laelia Pink.

Showa era

Light Porcelain Green & Olympic Blue

Plate 44 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Light Porcelain Green, Olympic Blue.

Showa era

Pale King's Blue & Blue

Plate 49 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Pale King's Blue, Blue.

Showa era

Benzol Green & Light Glaucous Blue

Plate 54 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Benzol Green, Light Glaucous Blue.

Showa era

Olympic Blue & Dark Tyrian Blue

Plate 67 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Olympic Blue, Dark Tyrian Blue.

Showa era

Pale King's Blue & Violet Blue

Plate 75 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Pale King's Blue, Violet Blue.

Showa era

Antwarp Blue & Dull Violet Black

Plate 106 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Antwarp Blue, Dull Violet Black.

Showa era

Light Glaucous Blue & Dark Tyrian Blue

Plate 119 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Light Glaucous Blue, Dark Tyrian Blue.

Showa era

Salvia Blue & Deep Indigo +1

Plate 139 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Salvia Blue, Deep Indigo, Neutral Gray.

Showa era

Blue & Lilac +1

Plate 143 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Blue, Lilac, Warm Gray.

Showa era

Helvetia Blue & Grayish Lavender - B +1

Plate 187 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Helvetia Blue, Grayish Lavender - B, Aconite Violet.

Showa era

Helvetia Blue & Grayish Lavender - A +1

Plate 218 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Helvetia Blue, Grayish Lavender - A, Deep Violet / Plumbeous.

From the archive

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All 378 palettes (348 Wada + 30 editorial) in five formats
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