Where did the lacquer on ancient lacquerware come from?

The lacquer on ancient lacquerware was mainly obtained from the lacquer tree.

Ancient lacquerware has a unique luster and texture on its surface, and this stunning visual effect comes from a special material - natural lacquer. It is mainly taken from the lacquer tree.

When the lacquer tree is harmed, it secretes a sticky sap, which is what we call natural lacquer. This sap covers the lacquer tree, which not only protects the lacquer tree itself from microorganisms and pests, but also allows the tree to survive in harsh environments.

The ancients discovered this property of the lacquer tree at an early age and began to collect the natural lacquer for use in making various kinds of lacquerware. During the process of making lacquerware, craftsmen applied lacquer to the surface of the objects to form a smooth, tough protective film, which not only gave the surface of the lacquerware a unique luster and texture, but also increased the durability and preservation of the lacquerware.

Lacquer tree's growing environment:

Lacquer tree is a positive species, like warm and humid climate, avoid the wind, grow at an altitude of 800-3000 meters, the wind to the sun and moist mountain slopes within the forest. The most suitable conditions for the growth and development of lacquer tree is the average annual temperature of about 13.0 ℃, the average temperature of the coldest month 2.5-5.0 ℃, the extreme minimum temperature -10.0 ℃, the annual rainfall of 700-1200 millimeters, the relative humidity of more than 75%.

The sandy loam soil which is fertile, loose and well ventilated is most suitable for the growth of lacquer tree. Lacquer tree is adaptable, with a certain degree of resistance to low temperature and drought, in the average annual temperature of 8-12 ℃, the annual cumulative temperature of 3300-5000 ℃, the lowest temperature -20 ℃ or more, the annual sunshine of 1500-2500 hours of natural conditions, lacquer tree can grow.

An average annual precipitation of about 500 millimeters and relative humidity of 70% or more are necessary conditions for the growth and development of lacquer trees. Usually, when the average annual precipitation is less than 550 millimeters, the lacquer tree can't grow normally; in the area where the average annual temperature is more than 20 degrees Celsius or less than 7 degrees Celsius, there are few lacquer trees.

The lacquer tree does not require high soil conditions, the soil pH value to be neutral or weakly acidic is appropriate, and it can grow in the gray sandstone brown soil, yellow-brown loam soil; if the soil is sticky, poor permeability, it is easy to accumulate water, resulting in lacquer tree moldy root rot phenomenon, or even death. In acidic soil, the growth of lacquer tree is slow, but in neutral calcareous lime soil lacquer tree grows faster.