PALETTEEdo · 江戸
Edo Color Palette
Edo-period sumptuary restrictions and townspeople's taste are often cited as context for refined browns and grays — 四十八茶百鼠 (forty-eight browns, a hundred grays). This palette uses that restraint as design inspiration with a sparse beni red accent.
01Role assignments
How each color earns its place.
茶色 Cha-iroBrown base · tea color
#6B4C2A焦茶 KogechaScorched brown · structure
#3B2A1E鶯茶 Uguisu-chaWarbler olive-brown · secondary
#6A5D21海老茶 EbichaShrimp brown · accent textile
#773C30鼠色 Nezumi-iroMouse gray · grounding
#A8A49B銀鼠 Gin-nezuSilver gray · highlight
#B5B0A5藍色 Ai-iroIndigo · workwear accent
#264653紅 BeniSingle allowed red · seal / signature
#B33A3A02Design notes
- Avoid bright primaries. Edo refinement is built on subtle distinctions between very similar tones.
- Beni red appears as a sparse highlight only — like a hanko seal on washi paper.
- Pair with handmade textures: raw indigo cotton, oiled wood, fired clay.
03FAQ
What is shijūhachi-cha hyaku-nezu?
四十八茶百鼠 — literally "forty-eight browns and a hundred grays" — is an Edo-period expression for fine distinctions among browns and grays, often discussed alongside sumptuary restrictions and townspeople taste.
Can I use Edo palettes for modern branding?
Yes — for tea, craft, hospitality, traditional craft revival, and editorial design. Avoid for tech SaaS unless explicitly counter-cultural.
Build with these colors