The damp and mild climate of East Asia provides the ideal environment forvarnish trees, and it is no surprise that the art of lacquer originated in this region.Chinese and Japanese lacquer work represent the highest level of this art; however, whenfocusing on the interaction of lacquer technique between China and Japan, the rolevarnish played should not be ignored.Japan is famous for its lacquer work. From the Edo period, the Japanese varnishmerchants actively sought Chinese varnish from the Chinese merchants trading inNagasaki. With the expansion of the Japanese lacquer industry during Meiji period, thedemand for varnish became increasingly urgent, a result of which was the importanceattached to the importation of Chinese varnish by the Japanese lacquer industry.