Ryukyuan lacquerware

Ryukyuan lacquerware is one of the chief artistic products of the Ryukyu Islands (today Okinawa Prefecture of Japan), and represents a form and style of lacquerware which is distinct from that of the surrounding cultures. Though distinct in its own ways, it is strongly influenced by Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian modes.

Ryukyuan lacquerware is distinguished by the use of inlaid seashells and various native Ryukyuan artistic motifs, and a strong tendency towards red lacquer, which is rather less common in the rest of Japan.

As the lacquer tree is not native to Okinawa, the key material needed to produce lacquerware could only be obtained by the Ryukyuans through trade. Though the islands were involved with trade with Japan and the Asian mainland for many centuries, it is generally believed that the presence and production of lacquerware in Ryukyu only began to any significant extent in the late 14th or early 15th centuries.

An office to supervise lacquerware craftsmen was established as 貝摺奉行所 (Kaizuri bugyōsho^?). According to "琉球国由来記 (Ryūkyūkoku yuraiki^?)", or the Official Chorography of Ryūkyū published in 1713, it was during 17th century that Kaizuribugyōsho focused on introducing technology from China and Satsuma. Since 1686 entries of lacquer trees cultivation as well as harvest of lacquer juice was recorded in 喜舎場文書 (Kishaba Monjo^?), with evidence on mairi tsukawashijō. Thus the Ryūkyū government managed and encouraged lacquerware production from lacquer juice harvest It was during 1800s when Kaizuri Bugyōsho supervised export of Ryukyuan lacquerware with tsuishu suikin techniques.

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