The Legend of Silk and Wood: A Hong Kong Qin Story
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Cement Priming

  • Step 6: Cement Priming

    After completing the wood base, a horn spatula is used for priming the lacquer cement, which is made by mixing raw lacquer and antler powder. Antler powder is ground from broiled antler and categorised into the following grade classes: 800, 1200, 2000, etc. The greater the number is, the finer the powder. Multiple layers of lacquer cement have to be applied onto the qin base, beginning with the coarsest one. After the base cement has dried, it can be sanded smooth. The process is repeated a few times, using finer cement on each successive layer of application. After the lacquer cement has completely dried, it forms the base cement, which has a hard texture designed to protect the wood. An appropriate thickness of base cement can also improve the instrument’s timbre. The dried base cement has a natural chestnut brown hue which becomes black when mixed with carbon black, or sharp red or brownish red when mixed with cinnabar. Scraps of gemstones and coral, called the babaohui (eight-jewel powder), can also be added to create special visual effects.


  • Step 6: Cement Priming

    Tools and materials

    1. Horn spatulas – made of buffalo horn, have a hardness and flexibility that allows even spreading of a thin layer of lacquer on the qin body
    2. Lacquer knife – made of steel, used for mixing antler powder with lacquer. The lacquer knife must be clean to prevent inclusion of pollutants into the raw lacquer.
    3. Lacquer dish – made of steel, used for holding and mixing lacquer cement
    4. Raw lacquer – used for mixing with antler powder to create the base cement
    5. Antler powder – used for mixing with raw lacquer to create the base cement
    6. Antler – the raw material for making antler powder
    7. Pestle and mortar – for grinding the antler into powder
    8. Coarse strainer – to filter out rougher particles of antler powder to create the base cement
    9. Fine strainer – to strain fine antler powder to create the base cement
    10. Carbon black – charcoal particles obtained after burning wood, for creating a black pigment
    11. Cinnabar – mineral, for creating a reddish pigment
    12. Coral scraps – an ingredient of the babaohui (eight-jewel powder)