November 13th Color Calendar Benifuji (Red Wisteria)

November 13th Color Calendar

Benifuji

"The beauty of the end is also the margin of the beginning."

Benifuji (red wisteria) has a soft, ephemeral color, like a mauve with a hint of crimson. At this time of year, when the Fujibakama flowers are blooming as if reluctant to part ways, the air is clear and the light shines in at an angle. The seasons are quietly moving towards winter.

This color embodies a premonition of parting and preparation for the next season. Fujibakama is one of the seven autumn herbs. The sight of the withering flowers evokes both purity and gentleness. Beni wisteria is a color that reflects that lingering impression. It may not be flashy, but it is a color that lingers in the mind.

November 13th is in the middle of Shimotsuki, when the leaves begin to turn red and the wind gets chilly. Wearing a color like red wisteria on such a day seems to give you a quiet strength to accept the end of the season. It's not a farewell, but an end as part of a cycle. That's what red wisteria tells us.

The "beauty of endings" is an important theme in WABISUKE's philosophy. Red wisteria is a color that colors the margins of a story. It is like a quiet sentence that leads to the next chapter.

References

• "Traditional Colors of Japan" by Shikosha • "Japanese Color Handbook" edited by the Plant Dyeing Research Group • "Benifuji" — irocore.com
• "The Aesthetics of Seven Herbs" Tankosha