The Lost Art of Raw Lacquer: Handcrafting a Chinese Zither from Scratch

Witness the incredible patience and skill required to create a Guqin (古琴), a seven-stringed traditional Chinese instrument with over 3,000 years of history.

In this video, we take you through the entire artisanal process, starting deep in the forest. Watch as we harvest raw lacquer sap—often called the "tears of the tree"—and transform it through oxidation into the beautiful, durable finish that defines this ancient instrument. From carving the wood body to mixing deer antler powder for the base, every step is a testament to nature and time.

This isn't just woodworking; it is a meditative journey of restoring an ancient melody.

In this video, you will see: 🌿 Harvesting raw lacquer from the sumac tree 🪵 Carving and shaping the wooden soundboard 🎨 Traditional lacquer application and polishing 🔧 Stringing the instrument with silk/nylon strings 🎵 The hauntingly beautiful sound of the finished Guqin

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Timestamps: 0:00
Harvesting Raw Lacquer (Tree Sap) 0:35
Processing and Refining the Lacquer 0:54
Carving the Wood Body 1:57
Applying the Base (Deer Antler Powder) 3:00
Applying the Red Lacquer Finish 3:22
Gold Leaf & Engraving Details 3:46
Stringing the Instrument 3:58
The Sound of the Guqin

In this video:

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