372 



ART INDUSTRY AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS. 



pure and partly mixed with R6-iro, and then several shades of 

 brown in even layers, till finally a firm crust from i to 2 millimeters 

 thick is formed. The varied ornamentation of arabesques, flowers, 

 human and animal figures, life scenes and whole landscapes and 

 battle pieces are then engraved upon it, or carved out with a sharp 

 knife, so that the several layers of different coloured material are 

 seen distinctly. This work of course is only possible when the 

 lacquer was warm. 



Fig. 13. — COVER of a box ornamented with tsui-shiu. 



This variety of lacquer work was very popular in China in earlier 

 times. The Emperor Kenriu, for instance, in A.D. 1766, in honour of 

 General Akui, who had successfully put down a great rebellion at 

 Pasen in Western China, ordered a picture of the battle in red 

 lacquer, and also a second picture of equal size to commemorate 

 the entry of the victorious troops into the capital, and their re- 

 ception.^ 



The process was later introduced into Japan by one of the 



^ See Wikowski ; "Erklarung zweier chinesischer Bilder aus rothem Lack," 

 in 10 Heft d. deutschen Gesellschaft Ostasiens. Yokohama, 1876. 



