Rabbit-Ear Iris Color

The vivid blue-purple of rabbit-ear iris, a celebrated spring color in classical waka poetry

HEX#5B5097

RGBrgb(91, 80, 151)

HSLhsl(249, 31%, 45%)

HSVhsv(249, 47%, 59%)

CMYKcmyk(40%, 47%, 0%, 41%)

HEXA#5B5097FF

RGBArgba(91, 80, 151, 1)

HSLAhsla(249, 31%, 45%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(70.5%, 0.073, 293)

LCHlch(65.2%, 30.3, 285)

🎨 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

#FFFFFFRatio 6.9:1AA

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

Aa14px Body

Standard Text

#DACAE3Ratio 4.5:1AA

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#CA9BC3Ratio 3:1AA Large

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

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#B37A6FRatio 2:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

Online Color Picker → Gradient Generator →

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

#1E1A32

#322C54

#463E75

#5A4F96

#7369B0

#928AC1

#B1ABD3

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

#6B677E

#6A667F

#625B8B

#5A4F96

#5244A2

#4A38AD

#422DB9

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#2E2B3B

#3F3B54

#4D4771

#595091

#675AAF

#7C6FC3

#9387D4

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

#4F5696

#4F5096

#544F96

#5A4F96

#604F96

#664F96

#6C4F96

💡 Use Cases

🎨

Rimpa School Paintings

Cultural products reproducing the 'Irises' screen, bringing national treasure-level aesthetics into everyday life.

👘

Courtesan Processions

The magnificent outer robes of oiran (courtesans) in period dramas, showcasing a high-profile, overwhelmingly beautiful presence.

💃

Stage Design

Backdrops and projections for opera or dance theater, rendering a dreamlike, surreal dramatic space.

📷

Japanese-Style Photography

Wearing a Rabbit-Ear Iris Color furisode for photos in a Kyoto garden, capturing the breathtaking beauty of youth.

📜 Origin & History

Rabbit-Ear Iris Color is taken from the Japanese native aquatic plant kakitsubata (rabbit-ear iris). The famous waka poem from 'The Tales of Ise' set 'by the banks of Sumida River' turned the five syllables of 'ka-ki-tsu-ba-ta' into a double entendre for a Chinese-style jacket and love, making it an eternal masterpiece.

During the Heian period, Rabbit-Ear Iris Color was all the rage at court as a spring 'layering color'. Ogata Kōrin's national treasure screen painting 'Irises' used the ultimate azurite blue and purple-red to mix Rabbit-Ear Iris Color, its repeating arrangement imbued with a strong, decorative rhythm.

In the Edo period, Rabbit-Ear Iris Color was heavily used on kimono sashes and furisode using the yūzen dyeing technique. Unlike the pale subtlety of Wisteria Color, it had a showy flamboyance, often used to express the passionate yet frank emotions of courtesans.

In modern stage plays and film art direction, Rabbit-Ear Iris Color is considered the most visually impactful traditional color. It breaks the stereotype of purple being dull, like a stream of brilliant light, especially suited for expressing the unique life force and impulses of adolescence.

🧠 Color Psychology

Passionate UnrestraintThe highly saturated blue-purple tone has intense emotional contagion and an extroverted personality.

Artistic InspirationLinked to classical masterpieces, activating extraordinary creativity and design talent.

Noble ConfidenceIts unreserved vividness brings a powerful presence, a conviction that one is the most dazzling existence.

Stylish FreedomA brilliance unbound by tradition, yearning for a free and unrestrained life state.

Keen IntuitionThe vivid color stimulates the nervous system, quickening sharp reactions to external changes.

Aesthetic SupremacyUltimate aestheticism, willing to pay any price for the pursuit of beautiful things.

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