Gromwell Purple

Deep purple dyed from gromwell root, the imperial garment color of the Han Dynasty

HEX#5C3A6B

RGBrgb(92, 58, 107)

HSLhsl(282, 30%, 32%)

HSVhsv(282, 46%, 42%)

CMYKcmyk(14%, 46%, 0%, 58%)

HEXA#5C3A6BFF

RGBArgba(92, 58, 107, 1)

HSLAhsla(282, 30%, 32%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(65.4%, 0.071, 317)

LCHlch(58.9%, 26.1, 302)

🎨 Color Palettes

Analogous2-3 adjacent hues (≤60°)

Triadic3 hues spaced 120° apart

Split ComplementaryMain color + colors adjacent to its complement

Complementary2 hues spaced 180° apart

Tetradic (Rectangle)4 hues forming a rectangle

MonochromaticSingle hue with varying saturation and lightness

♿ WCAG Contrast Colors

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Aa14px Body

High Contrast Text

#E6DBEBRatio 6.9:1AA

Suitable for body text, headings, and primary content, ensuring readability for all users

Aa14px Body

Standard Text

#D1A9C9Ratio 4.5:1AA

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#BD8495Ratio 3:1AA Large

Suitable for large text (≥18px bold or ≥24px), icons, UI component boundaries

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#857247Ratio 2:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

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Lightness VariationFixed hue and saturation, stepwise lightness adjustment ±30%

#1D1221

#221528

#3F2749

#5B396A

#784B8B

#9360A9

#AA81BB

Saturation VariationFixed hue and lightness, stepwise saturation adjustment ±30%

#55495A

#584162

#5B396A

#5F3172

#62297A

#652183

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#29212C

#29202C

#402E48

#583965

#714285

#8B48A8

#A157C1

Hue Fine-TuningFixed saturation and lightness, stepwise hue fine-tuning ±15°

#4F396A

#53396A

#57396A

#5B396A

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#64396A

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💡 Use Cases

🧵

Heritage Handicrafts

Used for plant-dyed scarves and handmade fabrics, conveying artisan spirit and eco-friendly ideals.

👘

Meditation Attire

Made into loose cotton-linen tea ceremony or meditation wear; its steady tone helps calm the mind and spirit.

🏠

Wabi-sabi Interiors

Used as artistic wall paint in wabi-sabi style spaces to create a profound, tranquil sense of seclusion.

📖

Ancient Book Restoration

Used for dyeing paper for restoring classic book cases, closest to the authentic hue of millennium-old texts.

📜 Origin & History

Gromwell Purple is one of the most representative traditional Chinese plant dyes. The root of the gromwell plant is rich in acetylshikonin, the primary natural source of purple in ancient China. The history of this color can be traced back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, with detailed records in the ancient dictionary 'Er Ya'.

During the Han Dynasty, the status of Gromwell Purple rose sharply. Because the gromwell dyeing process was complex and the color fastness was excellent, it was often used as the imperial garment color for nobles, symbolizing noble status and inviolable ritual hierarchy.

In the Northern Wei Dynasty, Jia Sixie's 'Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People' systematically recorded the cultivation and dyeing methods of gromwell. Through the use of mordants, Gromwell Purple could present a rich gradient from light grayish-purple to deep black-purple. Before the Tang Dynasty, it was the core source of purple in the Asian region.

Entering modern times, with the popularization of chemical dyes, gromwell dyeing gradually faded from practical use. However, in recent years, with the resurgence of intangible cultural heritage protection and plant-dyeing trends, Gromwell Purple, with its warm and restrained tone, has once again become a favorite for high-end natural fabrics.

🧠 Color Psychology

Profound MysterySubtle red and blue shifts in its dark tones evoke a desire to explore the unknown.

Archaic EleganceThe texture carries traces of handcrafted dyeing, evoking respect for traditional craftsmanship.

Reserved IntroversionThe color is not blatantly glaring, suiting personalities that are reticent but rich in inner thought.

Healing CalmThe natural plant origin attribute brings a sense of psychological security and belonging.

Understated LuxurySeemingly plain and unadorned, yet reveals refined taste in the details.

Humble GentlenessA non-aggressive dark color, capable of harmonizing with many other colors, reflecting the doctrine of the mean.

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