Japanese Blue and Green #16
From now on, I will mainly be looking at "Midori (green)." I want to see how "Ao (blue)" changes due to the spread of "Midori," but like "Ao," "Midori" is also quite different from our current understanding, so it won't be simple.
◆"Midori (Green)" in the Nara Period
"Midori" appearing as a color name in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) is only found in descriptions of the color system and the color of insects.
As I also introduced in Japanese Blue and Green #14, the descriptions of the color system feature "緑" (Midori: green), "深緑" (Fuka-Midori: deep green), and "浅緑" (Asa-Midori: light green). However, there is no way to know about the actual color tones other than checking recipes written in the Heian period, so there is a possibility that they were completely different initially.
The only hint about "Midori" recognition in the Nihon Shoki is found in the Chronicle of Empress Kōgyoku. It states: "This insect is always born on citrus trees or Japanese pepper trees. Its length is about four sun and its thickness is about the size of a thumb. Its color is "Midori" with black spots, and its appearance resembled a silkworm.
This insect is interpreted to be the larva of a swallowtail butterfly. Here is a reference image (made smaller). The diagram below shows colors extracted from this image. Since the Nihon Shoki was completed in 720, I think it's safe to consider this as "Midori in the early Nara period."
| Extracted from reference image | ||
| #aed264 | #a4d349 | #9fcb40 |
Originally, "midori" seems to have been used to express "freshness," "youthfulness," and "vitality," so it is natural to call such colors "Midori."
In the Man'yōshū, words like "midori-ko (green child)" also appear. These refer to small children. In household registers of the Nara period, boys aged three and under were apparently recorded as "ryokuji (green child)," so it can be considered that "young" was what "midori" meant. Later, gradually toward the Heian period, "Midori" as a color term became established. It would have been good if blue and green had properly divided the hues at that point, but things did not proceed so simply.
◆Sei Shōnagon's Midori
First, I will introduce several expressions of "Midori" in "枕草子" (Makuranosōshi: The Pillow Book completed around 1002). "枕草子" is the world's oldest essay literature, realistically capturing the changing of seasons and the hues of clothing. From its vivid expressions, we can glimpse the excellent color sense of its author, Sei Shōnagon.
A. The "tasoba no ki" may seem somewhat lacking in refinement, but when all the tree flowers have scattered and everything has generally become "Midori," it is refreshing to see the glossy buds of deep autumn foliage unexpectedly emerging from among the "Ao" leaves, even though it's not autumn. (Section 40)
Sei Shōnagon apparently called the "kanamemochi" (Japanese photinia), whose flowers resemble those of the soba tree, "tasoba no ki."
| Photinia |
Young leaves of Photinia chinensis
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This refers to the plant commonly seen in hedges. Indeed, red buds do emerge from it.
While it seems that "Midori" is being used in an ordinary way, the point that concerns me is that while describing "everything has generally become 'Midori,'" the old leaves of the kanamemochi are referred to as "Ao" leaves. "Everything has generally become 'Midori'" explains that the trees have generally become fresh green/young leaves, but these "Ao" leaves are not included in that "Midori." In other words, the old leaves are considered "Ao (blue)," not "Midori (green)."
B. During the time when there are no flowers, the red water lilies blooming on the "Midori-naru-ike" (pond colored "Midori" or pond with "Midori") are also very enchanting. (Section 66)
Since it depicts the contrast between red and "Midori," this "Midori" appears to be used as a color term. But what exactly is "Midori"?
Since it's a time when there are no other flowers, perhaps it refers to the color of phytoplankton in summer? Or it might be the appearance of the pond covered with aquatic plants.
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It's also possible that the fresh summer plants are reflected on the water surface. That might be more beautiful. Perhaps the color of the water surface is irrelevant, and if there are "Midori trees" in the surrounding area, it becomes a "Midori-naru-ike."
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C. The grass leaves and water both appear very "青" (Ao) as far as the eye can see... (Section 223)
This appears in a description of traveling through mountain villages in the fifth month: "Traveling by ox-cart through mountain villages around the fifth month is very delightful. While the grass leaves and water both appear to be a beautiful "青" (Ao) as far as the eye can see, as one goes straight ahead for a long time through places where vegetation grows thickly with no changes on the surface, there is indescribably beautiful water under the grass and trees. Though it is not deep, it is charming when water splashes up as people walk through it."
If they were traveling by ox-cart, it might have been a place like this.
If it had said "grass leaves are 'Midori,' water is 'Ao'," many things would become clear, but unfortunately both are described as "青" (Ao).
I think this is a similar situation to B, but there is a difference between green and blue. Perhaps only young leaves and fresh greenery are considered green? Since A describes the old leaves of kanamemochi as "Ao" leaves, it is highly likely that Sei Shōnagon made such distinctions.
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Ao
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Midori
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D. Though the day is very pleasant, the sky is hazed with "Midori" as far as the eye can see... (Section 260)
Here the sky is described as "Midori." In modern Japanese, it was normally rendered as "the sky is hazed blue." However, since it is hazed over, it doesn't seem to be a completely blue sky.
This is a scene where Empress Teishi (consort of Emperor Ichijō, the 66th emperor), whom Sei Shōnagon served, appears. She says: "Though the day is very pleasant, with the sky hazed with 'Midori,' the ladies' court dress appears beautifully against it, more elegant and interesting than fine textiles or various colored Chinese robes - nothing could surpass it."
Would it be something like this?
While "緑(Midori) sky" appeared before "青(Ao) sky," perhaps "sky is 'Ao'" was unsuitable because it carried the nuance of "漠 (baku)" and threatening rain clouds. Ultimately, "青(Ao) sky" apparently doesn't appear in literature until the Edo period.
Perhaps the "water of the 'Midori-naru-ike'" in B might be the state where the "'Midori' sky" is reflected on the water surface. This would mean she created a painterly description, but since she was a woman of rare talent, nothing would be surprising.
The phrasing "Midori-naru-ike" (pond in a state of Midori) rather than "Midori no ike" (green-colored pond or pond with green) makes sense with this interpretation.
Speaking of water lilies, one thinks of Monet. Many of his works also show the sky reflected on the water surface.
The Water Lily Pond, Green Reflections (1926)
The intention behind "Midori-naru-ike" might have been something like this. The reflected sky appears to merge with the plants and seems to float.
◆Izumi Shikibu's Midori
I will introduce Izumi Shikibu's "Midori." Izumi Shikibu was a female poet who lived in the same era as Sei Shōnagon and Murasaki Shikibu, and was one of the pinnacles of the classical tanka world, receiving the highest evaluation of her time.
松はその もとの色だに あるものを すべて緑も 春は殊なり
(Matsu-wa-sono moto-no-iro-dani aru-mono-wo subete-"Midori"-mo haru-wa-koto-nari)
This means something like "Pine trees are always green, but spring is especially beautiful." Since it indicates they are green even in winter, this "Midori" is at least not referring to "new buds." The word order and phrasing are elaborate, making judgment difficult, but since the phrase "pine trees are all Midori" seems to be established, I think it's safe to regard this fundamentally as a color name. Moreover, it feels like it's approaching modern understanding of "Midori."
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Kenrokuen Pine (Winter)
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Kenrokuen Pine (Spring)
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I found a poem similar to this. It's by a poet named Minamoto no Muneyuki. This person died in 940, and Izumi Shikibu was born in 978, so there's probably about a 100-year difference in their eras.
ときはなる 松のみどりも 春くれば 今ひとしほの 色まさりけり
(Tokiwa-naru matsu-no-"Midori"-mo haru-kureba ima-hitoshio-no iro-masari-keri)
"Tokiwa" (evergreen) refers to evergreen trees, and the content of the poem is almost the same. This is a subtle point, but I think this "Midori" refers to the pine needles as a whole. The difference between "matsu no Midori" (the Midori of pine) and "matsu wa Midori" (pine is Midori) suggests that during the 100 years leading up to Izumi Shikibu, "Midori" evolved into a color term capable of predicative usage.
I will introduce one more poem by Izumi Shikibu.
とぶかとて みどりの紙に ひまもなく かき連ねたる 雁がねを聞く
(Tobu-ka-tote "Midori"-no-kami-ni hima-mo-naku kaki-tsurane-taru kari-ga-ne-wo-kiku)
She is saying "The wild geese are flying as if densely written on green paper, and I can hear their sound." There is no doubt that this background is the sky. This is a metaphor that cannot work unless "sky is Midori" is taken for granted, and it's an indirect "'Midori' sky."
In that case, "'Midori' sky" might have been quite widely used. Since there were other examples of "'Midori' paper" in poems from the same period, I think it was fashionable in the imperial court.
Even before this, a poem like this was composed.
久方の みどりの空の くもまより こゑも仄かに かへるかりがね
(Hisakata-no "Midori"-no-sora-no kumo-ma-yori koe-mo-honoka-ni kaeru-kari-ga-ne)
Dainagon Moro-uji (913-970)
This is apparently the first "Midori sky." It means something like "From the green gaps in the autumn sky, the faint voices of wild geese heading home to their homeland."
There are other poems where wild geese and the "Midori" sky appear as a set, but from the atmosphere, these are not blue skies. Since wild geese are birds that herald the arrival of autumn, it seems to have been a common technique to overlay one's own sadness and loneliness with their cries.
Regarding this "Midori," I think it already has the same sense as ancient "Ao." In Heian literature, perhaps any color of sky could be called "Midori" without any problem.
◆Influence of Chinese poetry
Regarding "'Midori' sky," there seems to have been considerable influence from Chinese poetry and Chinese language, and I think it largely depends on the interpretation of the character "碧."
In the previous article , I introduced "青碧 (seieki)." Even now the reading of "碧" can be either "ao" or "midori," making it a very difficult character. However, "碧" was apparently ranked first in the 2022 baby name rankings for boys, with readings such as "ao" and "aoi."
Ao Tanaka / 田中 碧 (Leeds United FC)
Chinese "青" and "緑" are extremely complex to begin with, but originally "碧" was a deep blue, which in English would be "azure." Since the blue-green color "青碧" came to Japan, which considered everything from "blue" to "green" as "青," it's no wonder there would be confusion. If "Midori" existed, it wouldn't be strange to apply it as a reading for "碧."
Moreover, in Chinese poetry, "碧" is frequently used in phrases related to the sky, such as "碧天 (hekiten)," "碧落 (hekiraku)," and "碧空 (hekikū)." All of these are expressions for blue sky, but if these were quoted, naturally it would become "the color of the sky is 碧." I think this is how "'Midori' sky" was born.
During the Fujiwara era, reciting Chinese poetry from memory was a kind of status symbol, and indicating the color of the sky by alluding to Chinese poems containing "碧" was intellectual and cutting-edge, perfect for satisfying the desire for recognition. Though it's not clear from the literature, they might have eagerly used "'Midori' sky" regardless of the weather. Since it was a character used in the names of gemstones, it must have been considered a beautiful expression.
Summary
Originally, "漠 (baku)" was the beginning of blue and initially expressed the color of the sky. Nevertheless, "青い空" (blue sky) does not appear until literature from the Edo period. This is quite mysterious.
We have no idea how clear skies were expressed until the Nara period, but due to misunderstandings, we came to have a new expression for the sky: "'Midori' sky." We don't know whether they described a cloudless deep blue sky as "Midori," but it seems an implicit rule like "basically, the sky is Midori" was established.
Indeed, since the interpretation differs from today's "Midori," all verification is difficult. Even if there was confusion between blue and "碧," the fact that the color of the sky was considered "Midori" suggests there was a considerable difference in perception from modern green recognition from the very beginning.
For now, perhaps it's a matter of brightness? According to the sensibilities of the Nara period or Sei Shōnagon, perhaps when brightness is low, it might not be "Midori."
For example, in this chart, perhaps "Midori" was only the top 2-3 rows, and everything else was blue. The leftmost color in the top row feels like "sky hazed with 'Midori,'" and the colors on the right are the colors of swallowtail butterfly larvae.
Not only such hues, but if we consider the range from blue to green, it's possible that all high brightness levels were considered "Midori," while everything else was basically "Ao." Since originally "Ao" was an expression of color tone and "Midori" was a word to describe situations or states, the act of clearly dividing them by a single condition is unnatural, but I think there's a high possibility that such a tendency existed.
This hypothesis can be illustrated with two extreme examples:
| 1: Ao | 2: Midori |
| #298e30 | #a4d1e1 |
Phytoplankton is 1, and the sky is 2. If the sky is always "Midori," then perhaps the sky was truly reflected in the "Midori-naru-ike." If they were really making distinctions as this hypothesis suggests, Sei Shōnagon's color perception was quite remarkable.
On the other hand, Izumi Shikibu seems to have thought "pine needles are always green" and "the evening sky is Midori," so while her poems may be excellent, when compared solely on the point of 'Midori's color aesthetic,' it feels somewhat lacking.
Next time, I will introduce "Midori" in The Tale of Genji. "Midori" sky appears here as well, so please look forward to it.
| This article contains many of the author's speculations. Also, since the purpose of this article is to generate interest in Infigo online, I will not list any references. Thank you for your understanding. |