Lichuan Daxi Lacquer

Lichuan Daxi Lacquer

　　Daxi lacquer, also known as national lacquer, specifically refers to high-quality natural raw lacquer produced in Enshi Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. Currently, it mainly includes Lichuan Maoba Daxi lacquer and Xianfeng Xiaocun Daxi lacquer.

　　Former Premier Zhou Enlai once praised the raw lacquer from Lichuan Maoba: “Daxi lacquer is as clear as oil, clear enough to reflect a beauty’s face; it shimmers amber when shaken, and is strong enough to hook a fishing line.” Indeed, anyone who has used Lichuan Maoba lacquer knows that it is an exceptionally fine coating. It has a high content of urushiol, an especially thick film, excellent gloss, fast drying properties, and high concentration—qualities unmatched by ordinary synthetic paints. The raw lacquer produced in Maoba is not only an outstanding coating material, but its tree is also a traditional economic forest. The unique combination of lacquer and timber once brought significant economic benefits to lacquer farmers. Daxi lacquer is divided into two main types: cultivated varieties and wild mountain lacquer trees, commonly referred to as medium/small wood lacquer and mountain large wood lacquer.

　　Daxi lacquer has a long history, with the earliest records dating back to 1684 in the early Qing Dynasty. Historical accounts state that during the Qing Dynasty’s implementation of the "returning land to imperial administration" policy, what is now Maoba Township in Lichuan City was under the jurisdiction of the Tangya Tusi of Xianfeng at the time. Because Maoba Town was located on the ancient post road connecting southern Hunan and Sichuan, it became a necessary stop for merchants, thus turning Maoba into a distribution hub for raw lacquer—and giving Daxi lacquer its name. In the second year of the Guangxu reign, Jiangxi lacquer merchant Kuang Erchuan came to Lichuan to trade in raw lacquer for the first time and set up a purchasing station in Maoba. There were dozens of lacquer-buying businesses, and their products were exported to dozens of countries and regions including Japan, France, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.

　　Before liberation, Professor Yoshida Hikobumi from Kyoto University in Japan visited the area and praised Daxi lacquer, saying: “White clouds turn to red clouds, with a uniquely sour fragrance. Renowned as the finest in the world, its quality surpasses all others globally.”

　　After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, greater emphasis was placed on the development of Daxi lacquer. In 1952, then-Premier Zhou Enlai personally inscribed an award banner that read: “Daxi Lacquer, Renowned Worldwide.” From then on, Daxi lacquer gained fame both domestically and abroad. Records show that in 1951 alone, the production in Lichuan Maoba reached over 5,000 dan. Later, influenced by ultra-leftist policies, production declined for a period. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Maoba Township resumed production, and by 1981, output had reached more than 1,064 dan, making it one of the top agricultural and sideline export earners in the prefecture at the time. Locals even composed a folk song about Daxi lacquer: “Maoba Daxi lacquer is as clear as oil, its gloss reflects a beauty’s face. When shaken, it gives off a sour-spicy tiger-stripe sheen; when lifted, it stretches like a fishing hook.” Gradually, Daxi lacquer became a golden brand of Hubei.

　　The people of Maoba processed the raw lacquer and distributed it across the country, using it extensively in high-end mahogany furniture, handicrafts, medicine, beer barrels, as well as in chemical, petroleum, mining, and textile printing and dyeing industries. With the growth of the raw lacquer processing industry and the popularity of lacquer products, the folk song “Maoba Daxi lacquer is as clear as oil, its gloss reflects a beauty’s face. When shaken, it gives off a sour-spicy tiger-stripe sheen; when lifted, it stretches like a fishing hook” spread far and wide. Gradually, Daxi lacquer became a golden brand of Hubei.

　　Using science and technology to revitalize the lacquer industry and establish Daxi lacquer as a pillar industry for Maoba became the resolve and consensus of successive leaders in Maoba Township and even Lichuan City. In 1997, a Daxi Lacquer Middle School was specially built here, offering courses in Daxi lacquer cultivation, processing, and research. Over 1,000 practical professionals were trained. At the same time, Lichuan City established two lacquer-making factories, developed more than 10 product varieties, and began industrial production of Daxi lacquer. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Lichuan Supply and Marketing Cooperative used funds allocated to screen the Shanghai Film Studio’s educational documentary “Chinese Raw Lacquer” for lacquer farmers, promoting scientific and technological education. The city also trained over 150 Daxi lacquer researchers through organizations such as the Raw Lacquer Research Association.