In ancient times, people found that green persimmons had the potential to dye cloth. In autumn, the fruit of green persimmon gradually matures, showing a thick green color. This color is not only natural, but also very durable, so the ancients often used it to dye cloth. According to historical records, the cloth dyed by the ancients with green persimmons is very bright in color and not easy to fade. This dye is not only easy to obtain, but also low in cost, making green persimmon one of the most popular dyes at that time.
The ancients would mash green persimmons and squeeze out juice. Fruit juice contains a lot of natural pigments, pectin and other substances, which plays a vital role in the dyeing process. Then, they filter the juice to remove the residue and get clear persimmon juice.
When the ancients dyed cloth, they would soak the cloth to be dyed in persimmon juice, so that the pigment in persimmon juice could fully penetrate into the fibers of the cloth. Then, they took out the cloth and hung it in the sun for natural irradiation. Under the irradiation of sunlight, the pigment in persimmon juice will gradually deepen, eventually forming a light brown or brown dyeing effect.
Classification of natural dyes:
1, mineral dyes: mineral dyes are various inorganic metal salts and metal oxides, mainly brownish red, light green, yellow and white, and more than 20 chromatograms can be obtained after crushing and mixing. It is recorded in Kao Gong Ji that feathers are dyed with Dan, among which Dan is cinnabar. Because cinnabar is red and pure in color, it will not fade after a long time. Until the Western Han Dynasty, it was also used as a pigment to dye expensive clothes. Pigments such as cinnabar and ochre must be ground and mixed with sizing agent to make paste before being applied to fabrics.
2. Plant dyes: Plant dyes include madder (red), Arnebia euchroma (purple), sappan wood (black), saffron (red), indigo (blue), safflower (red), gardenia (yellow), ginger (yellow), Sophora japonica (yellow), Dioscorea cirrhosa (brown) and Dioscorea cirrhosa.
3. Animal dyes: organic substances extracted from animals, which can color fibers and other materials, such as red dyes extracted from cochineal insects.