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How was lacquer production organized during the Han dynasty?

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Qianlong imperial throne — lacquerwork Imperial Chinese throne of the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1735–96), red lacquer carved in dragons and floral scrolls, Qing dynasty; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

During the Han dynasty, lacquer production was a highly organized industry, primarily centered in Changsha and four regional government-controlled factories located in Shu (modern-day Sichuan).

The manufacturing process was characterized by a strict division of labor among specialized craftsmen, ensuring high-quality output:

Sugong: Responsible for preparing the base material, which could be crafted from wood, bamboo basketwork, or hemp cloth.
Xiugong: Tasked with priming the base and applying successive layers of lacquer.
Shanggong: Handled the final layer, which was polished to prepare the surface for decoration.
Huagong: The painter who applied the final designs.

Additional artisans were involved in specialized tasks such as inlaying designs, engraving through layers to reveal different colors, applying gilding, and inscribing details like the object's capacity, date of manufacture, and place of origin. This systematic approach allowed for the creation of sophisticated goods that were distributed across a vast territory, with Han lacquerware discovered as far away as Afghanistan and northern Mongolia.1