Lacquer Trees and Raw Lacquer

Lacquer Trees and Raw Lacquer

　　Lacquer trees are deciduous trees with alternate, pinnately compound leaves. The leaflets are ovate or elliptical, and the trees bear terminal panicles of small, often yellowish-green flowers. The fruit is flat and round. Raw lacquer, also known as earth lacquer or national lacquer, is a secretion that flows from the lacquer tree. Initially milky white, it turns dark brown upon contact with air, gradually thickening as it dries. Raw lacquer is a famous local specialty product in China. Historical records indicate that the cultivation of lacquer trees and the use of raw lacquer date back over four thousand years. It remains a traditional export commodity in China and is highly favored by international friends. According to relevant literature, the global annual production of raw lacquer is about 4,000 tons, with China’s production accounting for 70% of that total. Gazing at the hills and valleys covered in rows upon rows of lacquer trees, how can one not feel a surge of pride?

( Nujiang )