Nuances

The term Nihon no dentōshoku refers to a system of over a thousand traditional colors established by the Japanese people. Compiled over the centuries, these terms have acquired a poetry of their own, relating to the seasons and the environment, to historical events and periods, and have influenced culture, art, and craft practices. Among these many colors is white—shiro (白)—which encompasses a wide variety of shades, perceived through a refined sensibility that captures the subtlety of light and the depth of shadow, and how this manifests in daily life.

Here, 19 shades of white are gathered as a way to introduce the Brazilian public to the symbolism of color nuances and their importance in Japanese culture.

1.

Shiro

It is one of the oldest color names in Japan and refers to the color of an object that reflects light across all wavelengths.

2.

Gofun-iro

A pigment made from the powder of crushed shells of various mollusks. It is commonly used in traditional Japanese painting (nihonga). It is a subtly yellowish white.

3.

Enpaku

It refers to the white pigment extracted from lead. It is used in both enogu (mineral-based pigments) and in wall paints and printing inks.

4.

Kaihaku-shoku

A white with a grayish tint. More than a specific color, it is used as an expression to refer to something “close to white, which is difficult to describe otherwise.”

5.

Nyūhaku-shoku

White with a subtle yellow tint, similar to freshly milked cow’s milk.

6. 

Zōge-iro

This is a white with shades of gray and yellow, similar to ivory. It was brought to Japan during the Nara period (710–794 AD) through the kentōshi, official diplomatic and cultural missions sent by the imperial court to Tang Dynasty China between the 7th and 9th centuries.

7.

Neri-iro

This is a soft white with yellow tones. This color originates from neri-ito, raw silk thread, before bleaching.

8.

Shironeri

This is a lustrous white color, similar to silk. The term shironeri is used to refer to both white silk itself and the color. It has been regarded as a sacred color since ancient times.

9.

Shirayuri-iro

This is a white color with a subtle yellow tint, similar to the white lily.

10.

Obana-iro

This is a soft and delicate white with a touch of gray, similar to the flower spikes of susuki (Chinese silver grass). Obana is an alternative name for susuki and can also refer to the flower spikes of this plant.

11.

U-no-hana-iro 

This is a white similar to that of the flowers of uzuki (Deutzia crenata). It is one of the traditional colors dating back to the Heian period (794–1185 AD) and is one of the representative whites of that historical era.

12.

Shinju-iro

This is a distinctive white with a hint of gray, similar to the lustrous white of pearls, known as shinju in Japanese.

13.

Kinari-iro

This is a yellowish white with a hint of red, similar to the color of cotton before bleaching.

14.

Namagaki-iro

This is a grayish white whose name derives from the color of raw oyster meat. It is sometimes referred to simply as kaki-iro (oyster color).

15.

Tori-no-ko-iro

This is a soft white with a yellowish tint, or a light brownish-beige. Its name literally means “the color of a chicken eggshell.”

16.

Sesshoku

This is a color similar to snow. It is a slightly grayish or bluish white that conveys a cold, icy impression.

17.

Ginhaku-shoku

The name of this color denotes a luminous white, reminiscent of the sparkling glow of snow. It is sometimes also called hakugin-iro or gin-iro.

18.

Geppaku

This is a white with a soft shade of gray and blue that evokes moonlight. There is also the term Tsukishiro (つきしろ), which refers to the moment when the moon rises in the eastern sky and gradually brightens, taking on a whitish appearance.

19.

Junpaku / Mashiro

This is a white without impurities. It is also understood as a symbol of immaculate purity.

Technical advice provided by Kazuyuki Natori, President of the Japan Color Research Institute (General Incorporated Foundation), and Shoko Isawa, former professor at Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University and Ph.D. in Engineering.

Source: Special Color Dictionary Wonderful & Beautiful 888. Supervised by Teruko Sakurai. Published by Tokyo Shoseki.