Color used from long ago ranged from shiro (white), moegi (yellowish green), ko (yellowish light red), ai (indigo) ("Gyokuyo" [Diary of FUJIWARA no Kanezane]), zuri, kurenai (crimson), aka (red) ("Sankaiki"[Diary of Tadachika NAKAYAMA]), and asagi (light yellow) ("Makura no soshi" [the Pillow Book] and "Tamagusuri" [Gunpowder]).
色目にはふるくから白、萌黄、香、（「玉葉」）藍、摺、紅、赤（「山槐記」）浅黄（「枕草紙」「玉薬」）などであった。