Murasaki Purple

Traditional Japanese purple, sourced from gromwell root dye, a noble forbidden color of ancient times

HEX#714B8B

RGBrgb(113, 75, 139)

HSLhsl(276, 30%, 42%)

HSVhsv(276, 46%, 55%)

CMYKcmyk(19%, 46%, 0%, 45%)

HEXA#714B8BFF

RGBArgba(113, 75, 139, 1)

HSLAhsla(276, 30%, 42%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(70.8%, 0.075, 313)

LCHlch(65.3%, 28.5, 299)

🎨 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 6.8:1AA

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

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Standard Text

#E2CAE0Ratio 4.5:1AA

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#CB9FB1Ratio 3:1AA Large

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

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#A68759Ratio 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%

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#8C60A9

#A481BB

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

#6D6076

#6F5681

#724B8B

#744096

#7636A1

#782BAB

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation adjustment

#2D2532

#42364A

#584267

#6E4B86

#8552A7

#9A65BD

#AE7DCF

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

#614B8B

#674B8B

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💡 Use Cases

👘

Furisode Kimono

The highest grade of formal long-sleeved kimono for Coming of Age Day, using this as the main color to display family honor and prestige.

🎎

Tale of Genji Exhibition

Used in literary exhibitions and related merchandise to recreate the elegant world of the Heian court narrative.

🍵

Matcha Utensils

Purple tea bowls fired in Kyoto embody 'elegance within wabi-sabi' in the tea ceremony.

🗼

Tokyo Landmarks

Used as a limited-edition color for cultural merchandise like Tokyo Skytree, reflecting Edo atmosphere.

📜 Origin & History

Japanese 'Murasaki' (purple) derives from the color of native gromwell root dye. In the Japanese language, 'Murasaki' is not just a color but also a word connected to destiny. The cultivation of gromwell flourished in the Musashino region, and the 8th-century poetry anthology 'Man'yōshū' contains countless moving verses extolling the gromwell plant.

During the Asuka and Nara periods, Japan emulated the Tang Chinese system by enacting the 'Clothing Code', which established purple as the highest official rank color. Deep purple was for the robes of princes and high ministers, while light purple was for middle and lower-ranking officials. Because the dye was extremely scarce and difficult to produce, purple truly became a 'forbidden color'.

In the mid-Heian period, purple reached its zenith in aristocratic culture. In 'The Tale of Genji', the character Lady Murasaki is the embodiment of perfection, and the color purple was imbued with the highest symbols of elegance, destined connection, and supreme taste. After the ban was lifted in the Edo period, purple rapidly became accessible to commoners.

In modern times, purple transitioned from an aristocratic exclusive to a color representing Edoite aesthetics. Whether in Kabuki costumes or ukiyo-e prints, purple represents the Japanese people's relentless pursuit of 'iki' (chic) and refined taste.

🧠 Color Psychology

Honored SuperiorityOriginating from a thousand-year legacy as a forbidden noble color, it imparts a psychological hint of exceptional status.

Classic EleganceThe lingering refined charm of the Heian court reflects deep cultural cultivation and aesthetic character.

Predestined BondThe phonetic association with 'destiny' in Japanese carries a feeling of karmic connection.

Gorgeous AloofnessMagnificent yet keeps others at a distance, protecting the inner world from easy intrusion.

Mysterious InspirationCapable of capturing unseen connections, activating literary impulses to create and chronicle fate.

Dual PersonalityThe complex mentality from blending red and blue – outwardly cool like nobility, yet inwardly passionate.

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