Japanese lacquer techniques have been handed down since 4000 B.C. In the 7th century when cultural exchange between the continent and Japan increased, developed lacquer techniques were imported to Japan to improve further the Japanese technique. The author describes the history of the lacquer, especially that of soku and makie. It can roughly be said that soku was applied for making soku-kan (coffin) in the 7th century; soku-zo statue in the 8th century, soku-men (mask) in the 8th century and soku-bako (box) in the 10th century. Since then soku was rarely applied for making such cubic objects. Makie in the 8th century, the influence by continent was too big to be disregarded. Increased types of makie-fun (file) in the 11th century were corresponding to the improvement of such makibokashi, makiwake and kakiwari. The technique that combined makie and raden was originated in this century. The Golden Hall of Chusonji-temple constructed in the 12th century presents us the peak of makie technique. See also AATA 19-155.