Lapis & Chalk 瑠璃と胡粉

About this combination

Ruri is lapis lazuli, considered one of the seven treasures of Buddhism. It is the blue of sutra frontispieces and deity robes. Against gofun, the matte white of temple painting, it reads as devotional, timeless, and unmistakably sacred.

Where it works

• Sacred music, liturgical publishing
• Luxury stationery
• Museum catalogues

Historical context

This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.