Do You Know “Shijuhattcha Hyakunezumi (48 Browns 100 Grays)”? The “Iki” Colors of Edo
Do You Know “Shijuhattcha Hyakunezumi (48 Browns 100 Grays)”? The “Iki” Colors of Edo The “Iki” Colors of Edo: Creativity Within Constraints Due to the sumptuary laws of the Edo shogunate, commoners’ kimonos were strictly regulated not only in terms of “colors and patterns” but also “fabrics.” The materials that commoners could wear were limited to “hemp” or “cotton,” and the colors were restricted to “brown,” “gray,” and “indigo.” However, the desire of commoners to wear something unique led artisans to experiment and create subtle variations within these colors. Consequently, this restriction gave rise to the “Iki” colors of Edo (Tokyo). This creativity and the demand for fashionable attire among the commoners gave birth to the color palette known as “Shijuhattcha Hyakunezumi” (48 Browns 100 Grays, 四十八茶百鼠). These colors, though not flashy, represented a sophisticated and refined aspect of Japanese color culture. The terms “forty-eight” and “one hundred” don’t refer to the exact number of colors but signify a wide variety of hues. The Ingenious Palette: Unique Shades and the Spirit of “Iki” Among these colors, numerous shades of brown and gray emerged, each with its unique name. For example, in the brown category, there is “Ki-cha”