Madder Red
A warm orange-red dyed with Japanese madder, gentle as twilight
#D66A47rgb(214, 106, 71)hsl(15, 64%, 56%)hsv(15, 67%, 84%)cmyk(0%, 50%, 67%, 16%)#D66A47FFrgba(214, 106, 71, 1)hsla(15, 64%, 56%, 1)oklch(79.9%, 0.085, 45)lch(75.8%, 23.7, 58)🎨 Color Palettes
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💡 Use Cases
Sunset Photography
A classic main color for photographers and illustrators depicting twilight skies, using madder red to render images full of emotional tension and narrative.
Visiting Kimono
The base tone for dyed patterns depicting autumn grasses and maple leaves on women's formal kimonos, accentuating mature elegance and classical charm.
Autumn Lip Colors
A shade for limited-edition autumn lipsticks and blushes by Japanese beauty brands, creating a gently kissed-by-sunset makeup look suitable for date scenarios.
Techo Accessories
A color scheme for washi tape, stickers, and book covers in Japanese-style planners, targeting the literary youth segment, conveying everyday warmth and healing.
📜 Origin & History
Madder red originates from the root dye of the Japanese madder plant, one of Japan's oldest red dye sources. Fragments of madder-dyed cloth have been found in late Jomon period sites, proving its use over three thousand years.
In the Asuka and Nara periods, madder red was established as an important garment color rank. The warm orange-red dyed from madder was used for the court uniforms of officials, with the clothing code under the Ritsuryo system specifying detailed usage by rank and occasion.
During the Heian period, madder red frequently appeared in waka poetry and monogatari literature. Numerous poems in the 'Kokinshu' sing of madder, repeatedly using the color as a symbol of autumn fields at dusk, deepening its emotional expression in literature.
By the Edo period, madder was widely cultivated, and dyeing techniques reached their peak. Regions like Musashino became famous production centers, and madder red transitioned from an aristocratic color to commoner society. Madder-dyed cotton and linen became a familiar, warm color for everyday wear.
Though natural madder dyeing once declined due to modern chemical dyes, it has recently been re-evaluated as a traditional craft. Madder red is now considered one of the national colors that best represents Japan's warm sentiment, revitalized in various cultural and creative products.