台漆 (Taiqi)
Taiqi (台漆 — 'Taiwan lacquer') is Taiwan's indigenous lacquer tradition — distinct from Japanese urushi (CRAFT-0460), Chinese mainland lacquer, and Burmese hman-zi (CRAFT-0425) — developed in Lukang from Fujianese lacquer techniques adapted to Taiwan's climate and locally available materials. The defining Taiqi distinction is the red-and-black inlaid shell (pocai) technique: fragments of white and iridescent shell (traditionally Turbo marmoratus — the green snail) are embedded in wet lacquer layers to create elaborate inlaid patterns on furniture, musical instruments, and ritual objects. The shell preparation technique — grinding Turbo fragments on a whetstone to produce curved pieces that follow the concave and convex surfaces of the furniture form — is the critical technical knowledge. Shell pieces must be ground to follow the receiving surface curvature exactly: 'shell must match the furniture's memory.'
Risk level: Critically Endangered · Taiwan national ICH list
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