Qidiao, Carved Lacquer Technique of Ancient China

With its thousands of years of history, Beijing has a very rich culture.
Beyond the modern neighbourhoods, buried deep in the city's suburbs, a host of small workshops maintain and nurture the ancient traditions and savoir-faire including red lacquering, a technique invented in 4th-century China.

Zhixin Yang is one of the few remaining masters of this ancient technique. Lacquer is a material that is inextricably linked to Chinese civilization. In China, traces of completely lacquered objects dating back over 3,000 years have been found. The art of lacquering subsequently spread throughout Southeast Asia.

Documentary: China, Land of Colours - China in Red
Directed by: Guy Beauché
Production: ZED, Voyage