
''Toxicodendron vernicifluum'' (formerly ''Rhus verniciflua''
), also known by the common name Chinese lacquer tree,
is an
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...
n tree species of genus ''
Toxicodendron'' native to
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
and the
Indian subcontinent, and cultivated in regions of China,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
and
Korea.
Other common names include ''Japanese lacquer tree'',
''Japanese sumac'',
and ''varnish tree''.
The trees are cultivated and tapped for their toxic sap, which is used as a highly durable
lacquer
Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity.
Asian lacquerware, which may be ca ...
to make Chinese, Japanese, and Korean
lacquerware.
The trees grow up to 20 metres tall with large leaves, each containing from 7 to 19 leaflets (most often 11–13). The sap contains the allergenic compound
urushiol, which gets its name from this species' Japanese name urushi (); "urushi" is also used in English as a collective term for all kinds of Asian
lacquerware made from the sap of this and related Asian tree species, as opposed to European "lacquer" or
Japanning made from other materials. Urushiol is also the
oil found in
poison ivy and
poison oak that causes a
rash.
Uses
Lacquer
Sap, containing
urushiol (an allergenic irritant), is tapped from the trunk of the Chinese lacquer tree to produce lacquer. This is done by cutting 5 to 10 horizontal lines on the trunk of a 10-year-old tree, and then collecting the greyish yellow sap that exudes. The sap is then filtered, heat-treated, or coloured before applying onto a base material that is to be lacquered. Curing the applied sap requires "drying" it in a warm, humid chamber or closet for 12 to 24 hours where the urushiol
polymerizes to form a clear, hard, and waterproof surface. In its liquid state, urushiol can cause extreme rashes, even from vapours. Once hardened, reactions are possible but less common.
Products coated with
lacquer
Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity.
Asian lacquerware, which may be ca ...
are recognizable by an extremely durable and glossy finish. Lacquer has many uses; some common applications include
tableware,
musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...
s,
fountain pens,
jewelry, and
bows for archery. There are various types of
lacquerware. The
cinnabar-red is highly regarded. Unpigmented lacquer is dark brown but the most common colors of urushiol finishes are black and red, from powdered
iron oxide
Iron oxides are chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen. Several iron oxides are recognized. All are black magnetic solids. Often they are non-stoichiometric. Oxyhydroxides are a related class of compounds, perhaps the best known of whic ...
pigments of ferrous-ferric oxide (
magnetite) and
ferric oxide (
rust), respectively. Lacquer is painted on with a brush and is cured in a warm and
humid
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.
Humidity depen ...
environment.
Artistic application and decoration of lacquer can be a long process, requiring many hours or days of careful and repetitive layers and drying times. The creation of a single piece of urushi art, such as a bowl or a fountain pen, may take weeks to months to complete. Lacquer is a very strong
adhesive
Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation.
The use of adhesives offers certain advant ...
.
The leaves, seeds, and the
resin of the Chinese lacquer tree are sometimes used in
Chinese medicine for the treatment of internal parasites and for stopping bleeding. Compounds
butein and
sulfuretin are
antioxidant
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricant ...
s, and have inhibitory effects on
aldose reductase and
advanced glycation processes.
Buddhist monks who practiced the art of
Sokushinbutsu would use the tree's sap in their ceremony.
Wax
The fruits of ''T. vernicifluum'' can also be processed to produce a waxy substance known as
Japan wax used for numerous purposes including varnishing furniture and producing candles. The fruits of the trees are harvested, dried, steamed, and pressed to extract the wax, which hardens when cooled.
See also
*
Lacquer
Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity.
Asian lacquerware, which may be ca ...
*
Lacquerware
*
Shimose powder
*
Urushi-e
''Urushi-e'' (漆絵 "lacquer picture ) refers to three different techniques in Japanese art. Though urushi-e is most associated with woodblock, the term urushi-e is not exclusive to that medium. It can also refer to pictures using lacquer as ...
*
Urushiol
References
Further reading
* Duke, James A.; Ayensu, Edward S. ''Medicinal Plants of China''. Algonac, Mich.: Reference Publications, Inc. 1985. .
*
*
* Stutler, Russ
"A Little more information on Urushi" December 2002.
* Suganuma, Michiko. "Japanese lacquer".
External links
Toxicodendron vernicifluum in the Flora of ChinaHeat treatment of Japanese lacquerware renders it hypoallergenic
{{Authority control
vernicifluum
Trees of Korea