[Explanation of a color]

Usukurenai (薄紅) refers to a pale and bright shade of red. It is one of the traditional Japanese dye colors that has been used since the Heian period and was also known as usubeni. The name originated from its literal meaning, “light crimson,” which eventually became established as a color name.

This shade is lighter than Nakabeni (中紅) and slightly brighter than Kōbaishoku (紅梅色). According to the historical text Shōzokushokui (装束色彙) from 1778, “Usukurenai and Arazome (退紅) are the same,” indicating that Usukurenai and Arazome were regarded as identical colors.

Additionally, the Edo-period dyeing manual Enjizome Kata Hiden (臙脂染方秘傳) from 1829 describes the dyeing process of Usukurenai, stating, “For one roll of silk, 45 momme of kata-beni (片紅) is used, with a base dye of 30 momme of ukon (鬱金) to create a very pale egg-colored underlayer.” When compared to Nakabeni, the difference in the depth of the red dye results in a warm, yellow-tinged hue.

Usukurenai refers to a pale and bright shade of red. Even today, it is used as a general term to describe light red hues, making it a color name that encompasses a wide range of shades. Additionally, while the pronunciation of “紅 (くれない)” as “beni” became common during the Edo period, the term originally referred to lip rouge and cheek rouge (頬紅, hoobeni). It is derived from the word “nobeni,” meaning to spread or extend “丹 (に, aka),” a traditional red pigment.

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