Hi! I’m Wade, founder of Yueyin Xian (月隐仙坊) -- a project focused on reviving traditional Chinese weapons and armor through historically inspired urushi craftsmanship.

I’m currently learning the art of urushi lacquerwork, a millennia-old method that uses natural tree sap to preserve and beautify wood. While most modern artists typically apply urushi to small objects like bowls or pens, my goal is to return this technique to its original martial and ceremonial context: shields, armour, weapon handles, scabbards, and hardwood chests.

To begin this journey, I need help acquiring materials in the quantities required for large-scale work. Most sellers only offer small 40 or 100g bottles of lacquer, which is far too little for something as large as a shield or set of armour. I’ve sourced more affordable bulk quantities (1kg or more) from urushilacquer.com, directly from China; however, the upfront costs remain a significant hurdle. This includes not just the lacquer itself, but also tools, safety gear, and the materials needed for safe experimentation and testing.

Your support will help me:

My focus is on Chinese techniques, which are more flexible than their Japanese counterparts and align better with the goals of Yueyin Xian. I want to respectfully experiment with this traditional medium while staying rooted in the culture it came from.

In the long term, once I’ve gained experience and I am comfortable working with Urushi, I plan to travel to China to learn directly from classically trained urushi craftsmen to both deepen my understanding and preserve these rare techniques as authentically as possible.

While I’m not currently offering handmade items for sale (due to startup costs), this fundraiser is the first step toward making that vision a reality. I’ll be sharing updates, progress photos, and project insights along the way, as well as offering any test pieces I make for free of charge to donors should they want them.

If you believe in supporting independent artisans and preserving traditional culture, your contribution would mean the world to me.

- Wade (Yueyin Xian)