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Exchanges with Neighboring Cultures
Japanese lacquerware with roots in prehistoric times evolved through foreign exchanges in developing advanced techniques like maki-e, gold and silver inlays, and mother-of-pearl inlays. In the medieval period, Japan introduced chinkin, filling engraved lines with gold, and chositsu, carving designs into multi-layered lacquer. The demand for Chinese-style carved lacquerware grew with the adoption of Chinese Buddhist rituals, leading Japan to produce similar but simplified styles, covering red lacquer on carved wood and using ash-lacquer mixtures instead of multi-layered lacquer.