[Faculty of Architecture & Arts] "Exciting Children's University Dyeing Class - Ancient Purple Dyeing Experiment" held in Kyotango City

Professor Imabuku from the Department of Dyeing and Crafts, Faculty of Faculty of Architecture & Arts Otemae University, and his seminar students and graduates held the "Wakuwaku Children's University Dyeing Class - Ancient Purple Dyeing Experiment" at Kyotango City Agri Center Omiya on Saturday, August 24th. This is a two-year event planned as part of the Tango Chirimen Revitalization Project that began in 2017, with the aim of conveying the historical importance and splendor of Tango silk to children and everyone in Kyotango. This year, in its second year, the event aims to recreate ancient purple dyeing together with the children.
During the first year's "Wakuwaku Children's University" held in August last year, a 17m long and 40cm wide piece of Tango crepe was dipped in a liquid made by mixing 800kg of ash from Tango camellias with water to carry out the "mordanting" process. This year, the Tango crepe, which has been mordanted dozens of times over the course of six months, will then be dipped in a dye extracted from the roots of the purple plant to dye it purple. This series of processes was inferred from descriptions in the Heian period document "Engishiki," which contains descriptions of silk textile tributes from Tango Province, indicating that Tango silk textiles are an important industry with a very long history. It is possible that purple, the most noble color of ancient times, was also dyed using fabric from Tango.
Fourteen local children participated in this experiment. At the beginning, Professor Imabuku and Professor Morishita, Director History Research Institute at Otemae University, who assisted in the deciphering of the Engishiki, gave a clear explanation of the process so far and the significance of the experiment. Then, all the children participated, and under the guidance of Professor Imabuku, seminar students, and alumni, they carried out the process from extracting the dye to soaking the Tango crepe in the dye to dye it purple. The process of extracting the dye and dyeing took place over a dozen times in total, and it was truly spectacular to see the white Tango crepe turn a vivid, lustrous purple with each passing round.
At the end of the event, a closing ceremony was held. Professor Imabuku handed each child a certificate of participation, which was a small piece of purple Tango Chirimen. I'm sure it will become an unforgettable summer memory for the children who participated.

(Source: School Public Relations)