also: きに
noun
orpiment; yellow arsenic mineral; yellow pigment
Refers to the mineral orpiment (arsenic trisulfide) or the bright yellow pigment made from it. Used in traditional Japanese painting and as a color name.
See also: 石黄
雌黄は、日本画で使われる黄色い顔料の一つです。
Orpiment is one of the yellow pigments used in Japanese painting.
noun
gamboge; yellow resin pigment
A dull yellow pigment derived from the resin of Garcinia trees. Historically used in art; less common than orpiment in Japanese contexts.
See also: ガンボージ
ガンボージは、雌黄と同様に黄色の絵の具として使われた。
Gamboge, like orpiment, was used as a yellow paint.
noun
falsification; alteration; doctoring
Figurative use derived from the practice of using orpiment to alter documents. Refers to tampering with or falsifying written records.
古文書の雌黄が疑われ、真贋が問題になった。
Falsification of the ancient document was suspected, and its authenticity became an issue.
The kanji 雌 (female) and 黄 (yellow) together refer to orpiment, a yellow mineral. The figurative sense of 'falsification' comes from the historical use of orpiment to alter documents. The reading しおう is the standard Sino-Japanese reading; きに is a rare alternative reading.