Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t9.3

v1.c5.s2.t9.3

*All Sutras* pointed out that “kuïkuma is the name of a tree and comes from Kophen and its flowers are yellow. After picking them, they are then left in a place to rot and become soft and mushy. The juice is pressed and mixed with other materials to yield a flavour and the flower dregs are fragrant and can be also made into a flavouring.” While saffron was used as medicine occasionally, it was mainly used for flavouring and colouring materials in religious ceremonies. Volume 6 of the *Sarvāsti-vāda* translated by Yi Jing recorded eight main Indian pigments and colours: red purple dye, red violet dye, saffron, cinnabar/vermilion, deep greenish black or deep green or deep blue, alizarin red, yellow lead and sappan lignum. Monks were not allowed to use them to dye clothes.