In the vibrant tapestry of China’s traditional arts and crafts, Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware shines like a unique and captivating gem. Born in the ancient city of Pingyao in central Shanxi, a city steeped in a millennium of history and culture, this lacquerware possesses a profound cultural heritage. With its exquisite craftsmanship, antique and elegant appearance, and exceptional quality, Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware stands as an outstanding representative of Chinese traditional crafts, its brilliance undimmed through the long river of history.
Tracing the Origins: A Millennium of Craft, Sedimented by Time
The history of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware stretches back over a thousand years, originating in the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, achieving significant development during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (713-741 AD), and flourishing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. According to the “Shanxi Cultural Anecdotes,” Pingyao’s lacquerware had already reached a considerable scale during the Kaiyuan era, forming its own unique style and local characteristics. This followed a substantial period of germination and development. During the Kaiyuan era, Pingyao’s lacquer artisans, building upon traditional lacquerware techniques, invented a lacquerware craftsmanship that utilized hand-push polishing and gold tracing with colored painting. The formation of the hand-push polishing technique is closely linked to the making of musical instruments and the care of lacquered furniture. Lacquer artisans, through practice, serendipitously discovered the remarkable effect of the human palm on lacquer surfaces, making them increasingly lustrous with rubbing, thus pioneering this unique craft.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties witnessed the zenith of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware, coinciding with the rise and development of Shanxi merchants. By the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao city boasted 19 workshops engaged in the production, repair, and sale of lacquerware, employing over 300 artisans. Following the footsteps of Shanxi merchants, Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware spread throughout China and even reached the Eurasian continent, becoming a vital envoy for cultural exchange between China and the West, allowing the world to appreciate the charm of Chinese traditional craftsmanship.
Craftsmanship Characteristics: Ingenuity and Meticulousness
Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware is renowned for its intricate and complex production process. Each step embodies the dedication and wisdom of the artisans, akin to a meticulously choreographed dance where every movement is interconnected and indispensable.
The creation process involves numerous stages, including woodworking, applying the ash base, lacquering, painting, and push-polishing. In the woodworking stage, artisans carefully select timber to create the wooden forms of various objects, laying the foundation for subsequent processes. The ash base stage involves wrapping the wooden form with white hemp and applying a layer of brick ash mixed with pig’s blood, known as “pi ma gua hui” (wrapping with hemp and hanging ash), which enhances the durability of the wooden form. The lacquering stage employs techniques such as cloth application, applying lacquer, sanding, push-polishing, and wiping lacquer to give the lacquerware its unique luster and texture. The painting and push-polishing stages represent the essence of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware. Painters use gold tracing with colored painting, dui gu zhao qi (piled-up relief with covered lacquer), bone and stone inlay, and color wiping to create exquisite patterns on the lacquer surface. Landscapes, flowers and birds, pavilions and terraces, or figure stories come to life with smooth lines, harmonious colors, and a magnificent grandeur. In the push-polishing stage, artisans repeatedly rub the lacquer surface hundreds or even thousands of times with their hands dipped in sesame oil and soybean oil. The lacquer surface polished by hand is finer and more lustrous than those polished by other methods, making the lacquerware captivatingly radiant.
Artistic Charm: A Perfect Fusion of Utility and Art
Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware products are divided into two main categories: practical items and decorative pieces, both possessing high practical and artistic value. Practical items such as jewelry boxes, tableware, and pendants are not only beautifully crafted but also environmentally friendly, non-toxic, insect-resistant, heat-resistant, moisture-proof, and durable, making them excellent for everyday use in the home. Decorative pieces such as screens, furniture, and wall paintings are treasures of the art world. Their bright luster, harmonious colors, and magnificent grandeur add a rich artistic atmosphere to palaces, temples, halls, and studies.
The artistic charm of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware is also reflected in its unique decorative techniques. Dui gu zhao qi (piled-up relief with covered lacquer) is characterized by its three-dimensionality. Architectural elements and rocks are raised rather than flat, achieved by piling up lacquer ash and then tracing gold on top. This technique gives the patterns a strong three-dimensional effect, seemingly within reach. The gold tracing with colored painting technique uses gold lines to outline various patterns, showcasing a noble and elegant temperament. These techniques intermingle and together constitute the rich and colorful artistic world of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware, captivating all who behold it.
Inheritance and Development: Multifaceted Support, Renewed Vitality
In recent years, with the support of various forces, the millennial Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware has undergone a significant industrial transformation, with the ancient craft regaining developmental “new life.” The government at various levels attaches great importance to the protection and development of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware coating and decoration techniques. On July 29, 2023, the fourth meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th Shanxi Provincial People’s Congress voted to approve the “Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware Coating and Decoration Techniques Protection Regulations,” which came into effect on October 1, 2023. The regulations standardize the protection, preservation, dissemination, and development of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware coating and decoration techniques from multiple aspects, providing a solid legal guarantee for the inheritance of the craft.
Inheritors also bear the responsibility of safeguarding and passing on this ancient skill. Xue Shengjin, an 87-year-old inheritor, revived the long-lost dui gu zhao qi technique as early as the 1960s and also created new craftsmanship such as “three golds and three colors,” increasing the coating and decoration techniques of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware from 3 to over 20. Xue Xiaodong, a provincial-level representative inheritor of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware coating and decoration techniques and a Chinese arts and crafts master, adheres to the concept of pure manual techniques and pure natural materials, having trained nearly 300 lacquerware talents, hoping to ensure the continued development of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware coating and decoration techniques through hands-on teaching. Li Rui, a “post-90s” inheritor of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware coating and decoration techniques, imparts intangible cultural heritage knowledge to children through illustrated materials, planting a seed of intangible cultural heritage in their hearts, while actively exploring innovation by combining modern technologies such as 3D printing with traditional techniques, injecting new vitality into the development of push-glow lacquerware.
Through the efforts of the inheritors, the creative subjects of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware have continuously expanded, ranging from small jewelry boxes, tableware, and pendants to large screens, furniture, and decorative items such as plum vases and wall paintings, all becoming creative domains for push-glow lacquerware, allowing this ancient craft to rejuvenate in its radiant splendor. In addition, Pingyao County has also held lacquer culture and art festivals, lacquer art creative works competitions, and exquisite product exhibitions, and published the book “The Development and Innovation of Pingyao Lacquer Art,” creating a favorable atmosphere for the inheritance and development of Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware.
Looking to the Future: Passing the Torch, Creating New Chapters
Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware, as a treasure of Chinese traditional culture, carries a millennium of history and culture. In the days to come, we have reason to believe that with the policy support of the government, the dedication and innovation of the inheritors, and the common attention of all sectors of society, Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware will radiate even more dazzling brilliance in the new era. It will continue to inherit and promote the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation, becoming a bridge connecting the past and the future, allowing more people to understand and appreciate this ancient and magical traditional craft. At the same time, Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware will continuously innovate and develop, adapting to the needs of modern society, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese traditional craftsmanship on the international stage, and contributing its strength to the cultural rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Let us look forward to Pingyao Push-Glow Lacquerware going further and further on the path of inheritance and innovation, writing even more glorious chapters.