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| 5 Color of Harvest: Dark Brown |
* In autumn, we see all things around us celebrating harvest. The sea, rivers, mountains, and the earth beneath our feet remind us strongly that our lives are sustained by their products, evoking sincere gratitude for natural blessings.* I understand that many people associate autumn with the golden color, which represents rich harvests. However, as the color that best represents autumn, I would like to suggest an "earth color," the tone of rich soil, which features the warmth of human skin. We all know that fertile soil enhances not only our physical health, but also mental health. Of all the earth colors, I believe that "dark brown" best represents the shade of this nurturing soil. * The soil is constantly changing its shade. As it absorbs the lives of fallen leaves, tiny insects, small and large animals, and rainwater, the hue of the soil becomes darker and darker. When it becomes deep and dark brown, the soil is ready for new seeds to germinate. Thus, "dark brown" represents the natural cycle, in which every life returns to the soil, to nourish another. * "Chairo," a Japanese expression describing the color "brown," literally means the color of tea leaves. Tea was introduced to Japan from China during the Heian Period (794 - 1192). Although tea was originally a beverage for people of high society, during the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), it became popular among common people. Japanese crafts people then began dyeing cloth with tea solution; hence the name "chairo," meaning "tea color." During the Edo Period, for the first time in Japan's history, common people played the leading role in cultural and creative activities. Kabuki, which then enjoyed soaring popularity, and kabuki actors had great influence on lifestyles of common people. Colors of kabuki costumes immediately became fashionable; shikan-cha, danjuro-cha, and the greenish baiko-cha were the colors of costumes worn by Shikan, Danjuro, and Baiko respectively. If I were to choose one color to represent the culture and society of the Edo Period, I would suggest brown. |
| Return to the Soil |
* People, animals, and plants all exhibit various tones of brown; brown is the most common and the most natural color. The phrase "return to soil" refers to a return to nature, or the original entity. From the viewpoint of nature's cycle of birth and death, a body, decaying into the soil, provides nutrients for another life. In this sense, I believe that even a beast-like death without burial has significance and meaning. |
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