What are the main ingredients of Gardenia Red Color?
"Tiangong Kaiwu" is a scientific and technological masterpiece written by Song Yingxing in the Ming Dynasty, but there is no record of the specific ingredients of "Gardenia Red Color" (gardenia red color). But from a modern scientific perspective, combined with traditional cognition and similar knowledge of grass and wood dyes, it is said in ancient Chinese.
Gardenia red pigment, its main component is derived from gardenia fruit. Gardenia is a common plant, and the fruit contains many ingredients, which can be obtained by extraction. Its key component is iridoid glycosides, which are abundant in gardenia fruit. Under specific conditions, or through hydrolysis, oxidation and other reactions, iridoid glycosides have an impact on the color and stability of the pigment. The second is flavonoids, which are also one of the components of gardenia red pigment. Flavonoids have various structures, and flavonoids of different structures contribute differently to the pigment system, either enhancing the color or improving its tolerance to the environment. In addition, it also contains some organic acids and carbohydrates. Although it is not the core of pigment color, it has a regulatory effect on the physical and chemical properties of the whole pigment system, such as affecting solubility, pH, etc., which indirectly affects the stability and application characteristics of pigments.
Red pigment is produced from gardenia. Although there is no accurate modern analysis in ancient times, it is also known that gardenia fruit can obtain a bright red dye through specific processing, boiling, precipitation and other processes, which is used for fabric dyeing. In this process, the above components may interact to form a usable pigment.
Which scenes is Gardenia Red Color suitable for?
The color of gardenia red is widely used. In meals, it can add color. In ancient times, people often used this color on food, making it bright and attractive. For example, at festivals, gardenia red is dyed on cakes, preserves, etc., to make it more festive. When viewed, people will be happy and their appetite will increase.
In the realm of craft decoration, gardenia red is also useful. In the past, craftsmen made pottery and painted porcelain, occasionally using gardenia red as color, and fired into utensils. The color is bright and unique. In the matter of silk dyeing, gardenia red can add a lot of color to the fabric, or as clothing, or as a curtain, which can add a lot of color and highlight the quaint style.
In the field of medicinal use, although gardenia red is not the main medicine, it also has auxiliary benefits. Ancient physicians knew that it was mild in nature, or in some external agents, it was accompanied by gardenia red to observe the penetration of medicinal effects by its color, or use it to prepare the color of ointment to make the shape of the medicine more suitable.
In rituals and customs occasions such as sacrifices, gardenia red also has traces. The ancients made great gifts, and sacrificed objects or dyed them with gardenia red to express solemnity and piety. When worshiping heaven and earth and respecting ancestors, the color of the offering is related to respect, and the color of gardenia red can add a solemn state to the offering, so as to achieve the sincerity of the worshipper.
What are the advantages of Gardenia Red Color compared to other similar products?
The red of the gardenia has three advantages compared to other similar products.
One is bright and pure. The red dyed by the gardenia is bright and beautiful, such as the early rise of the morning sun, the bright color is eye-catching, and the color is mellow, not miscellaneous and not refuted. On the other hand, other types, or light and odorless, although red but like dust, lose their authenticity; or the color is mixed but impure, the red is dark, and it is difficult to show its beauty. Like the various colors of the dyeing workshop in the past, many of them are easy to change over time, but gardenia red can maintain its brilliance for a long time, and the years cannot change its color. This is the color of gardenia red.
Both, stable and good. The quality of gardenia red is stable but not impatient. By the water, the color is not easy to fade, the wind blows and the sun blows, and it can't damage its beauty. Other kinds of colors, when exposed to water, will bleed, when exposed to the wind, will be light, and there is every risk of losing color. In the past, the clothes and silk were dyed, and the color often changed. Gardenia red did not have this problem. It can add color to clothing, and it will last as new for a long time. This is the excellent nature of gardenia red.
All three, the source is pure and good. Gardenia red is taken from nature, and has no harmful properties. It is not harmful to human skin, and it is not irritating to the essence of things, and there is no worry about damage and destruction. Compared with other kinds or chemical materials, although the color is good for a while, it will be harmful for a long time, or it will cause qualitative changes to things. There are also hidden worries about human health. Gardenia red is derived from nature and can be applied to all things to ensure its original goodness. This is the source of gardenia red.
Therefore, gardenia red is more similar to other products, and it is outstanding for its color, stability and purity. It can be a good choice for all kinds of dyeing.
How to use Gardenia Red Color
"Gardenia Red Color" (Zhihong) is a traditional color material. Its use method is recorded in many ancient books and also described in "Tiangong Kaiwu".
"Tiangong Kaiwu" contains the preparation and use of Zhihong, which is derived from gardenia. Gardenia is a common plant, and the fruit can be used as a pigment. Take the gardenia fruit, crush it, and soak it in water to get a yellow juice. However, if you want to get Zhihong, you need to add a specific mordant.
In ancient dye workshops, a common mordant was alum. Soak the fabric to be dyed in the alum solution first, so that it can fully absorb the mordant, and then add the gardenia juice dye. After this process, the color of the fabric is more firm, and the color also changes from yellow to red, resulting in Zhihong.
This dyeing method, one is relatively simple to operate, and the materials used are common and easy to obtain; the other is that the color dyed by gardenia is natural and soft, which is in line with the aesthetics of the ancients. For example, during the Song and Ming Dynasties, many fabrics were dyed this way, and the color was elegant and lasting.
And depending on the material of the fabric, the red dyeing method also varies. Silk fabrics need to be precisely controlled during dyeing, so that the water temperature and soaking time can be precisely controlled to dye a uniform and bright color; cotton and linen fabrics are slightly resistant to coarse placement, but they also need to pay attention to the ratio of mordant and dye solution to achieve the desired effect. In terms of color depth, it can be achieved by adjusting the amount of gardenia and soaking time. A large amount of long soaking will make the color dark, and a small amount of short soaking will make the color In this way, gardenia, alum as the main, through soaking, mordant dyeing and other processes, can be a unique charm of red, an important component of traditional fabric dyeing techniques.
How long is the shelf life of Gardenia Red Color?
"Tiangong Kaiwu" is a scientific and technological masterpiece written by Song Yingxing in the Ming Dynasty. However, the book does not mention the shelf life of "Gardenia + Red Color" (Gardenia Red). However, according to ancient common sense and experience in the preservation of various pigments and dyes, the following inferences can be made.
Gardenia red, a red pigment or dye made from gardenia as raw material. In ancient times, the preservation of such natural pigments was mostly related to the storage environment. If placed in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place, its shelf life may be extended.
In a cool place, it can be protected from direct sunlight. The heat and ultraviolet rays of sunlight can easily cause changes in the molecular structure of pigments, causing them to fade and deteriorate. Dry environment can prevent moisture from invading. Moisture can easily make the pigment damp and moldy, destroying its quality. Good ventilation can circulate the air and disperse the water vapor and odor that may accumulate.
If properly stored, it is speculated that Gardenia Red can be stored for several years according to the conditions at the time. In a well-sealed container, it can be stored for three to five years by isolating air from external impurities. However, if the storage environment is not good, such as high temperature, humid place, or only stored for a few months, there will be color changes, texture changes, etc., which will affect the use effect.
Although the ancient technology has not been accurately determined by today's shelf life, craftsmen have properly preserved materials according to experience to ensure that Gardenia Red and other pigments are effective in the process of production.
