Traditional Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage — Lacquer Art

The Timeless Beauty of the East: Lacquer Sourced from Nature Immortal in Use Lacquer, also known as natural lacquer, raw lacquer, or earth lacquer, is commonly referred to as Chinese lacquer. It is a type of tree-based coating, extracted manually from lacquer trees and processed into a durable material. Widely recognized as the “King of Coatings,” lacquer art has accompanied the long and splendid history of the Chinese nation, showcasing the magnificent and rich artistic charm of traditional culture. From ancient black gauze hats and lacquer inkstones to modern furniture and crafts, lacquer art has left countless brilliant marks across the land of China.

01 Historical Origins

The history of lacquer art can be traced back over 8,000 years, spanning the entirety of China’s 5,000-year civilization. It is an indispensable part of ancient Chinese culture. As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, people began using lacquer to create various daily utensils and crafts. Due to its elegant appearance, waterproofing, and anti-corrosion properties, lacquer gained increasing admiration and reached its peak during the Han and Tang dynasties.

Over time, lacquer art continued to develop and refine, gradually forming a unique artistic form. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, it had reached its zenith, becoming a treasured gem of the imperial court and nobility.

02 Exquisite Craftsmanship

An ancient saying goes, “A hundred miles and a thousand cuts yield just one tael of lacquer,” meaning that one must travel a hundred miles and make a thousand cuts on a thousand trees to obtain a small amount of lacquer sap. This highlights the rarity of lacquer production. Artisans sometimes add gold, silver powder, or crushed shells to the lacquer to enhance the vibrancy and dreamlike quality of the patterns on the lacquerware.

The lacquerware production process primarily includes: forming the base, applying cloth, scraping putty, coating with lacquer, layering lacquer, decorating with textures, and polishing. Among these, sanding and drying are integral to every step, testing the patience of the artisan.

03 Inheritance and Innovation

Chinese lacquer art techniques, as recorded in the Ming dynasty text Xiushilu (Records of Lacquer Decoration), encompass 497 methods, such as plain lacquer, gold tracing, filled lacquer, mother-of-pearl inlay, carved lacquer, gold and silver inlay, variegated lacquer, and rhinoceros hide patterns.

Initially used for sealing and reinforcing tools, lacquer has evolved over thousands of years as people deepened their understanding of its properties. Not only have they developed a spectrum of colorful lacquers, but they have also created decorative techniques such as inlay and mother-of-pearl, transforming lacquer from a mere material into an art form. Painting with lacquer and using it for sketches have separated lacquer from its practical functions, turning it entirely into decorative and aesthetic works that continuously expand the forms of lacquer art.

Lacquer is not just a material; it is a living form, one that has endured for millennia while constantly evolving. A seemingly simple piece of lacquerware flows with the life of the lacquer, the object, the artisan, and the owner.