noun
sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan)
A tropical tree whose heartwood yields a red dye. Botanical term.
蘇芳はマメ科の植物で、染料に使われる。
Sappanwood is a leguminous plant used for dye.
noun
sappanwood dye; red dye from sappanwood
The red dye extracted from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan, historically used in textiles and crafts.
この布は蘇芳で染められている。
This cloth is dyed with sappanwood dye.
noun
layered color (light brown front, dark red back)
A traditional Japanese color combination used in court garments: light brown on the outside and dark red on the inside. Historical term.
平安時代の装束には蘇芳の襲色目が用いられた。
The layered color scheme of light brown over dark red was used in Heian-period court attire.
Katakana spelling, common in botanical or dye contexts.
Rarely used kanji form.
The kanji 蘇芳 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) for the Chinese-derived name of the sappanwood tree. The exact derivation is uncertain.