The present invention provides an ink set for ink jet recording
comprising: an ink which contains: water; a colorant; a water-soluble
organic solvent; polyvalent metal ions; and compound (A) which is
intrinsically capable of substantially inactivating the polyvalent metal
ions, and a liquid composition is of a pH in which the polyvalent metal
ions in the ink can be substantially activated. The pH of the ink is
within a range in which compound (A) keeps the polyvalent metal ions
substantially in an inactive state. The invention also provides an ink
jet recording method which uses such an ink set.