Indigo Blue Color in Japanese Culture during Edo Period

Abstract

This article aimed to take a closer look into the role of blue colours in the Edo period Japan. The article is the latest one of the series the Role of Colors in the Edo Japan in which the 2 precursors articles are focused on Grey and Brown. Although blue is one of the most common colour in Japan since the ancient time because the indigo planted widely in the country. The colour flourished in this period since the Bakufu or the Edo government refrained normal peoples from wearing bright colours. The newly discovered Prussian blue from Europe with deeper hue and tone than the indigenous indigo blue was continuously imported into Japan. Cheap in price, the colour became the most prominent expression for Ukiyoe printing especially in the landscape genre. Among various artists of this period using various kind of blues are Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai and his famous 36 Views of Fuji series of prints.