In Japanese paintings Gofun , powdered oyster shell, has been used since the 15-16th centuries as a pigment and as a ground coating. In the earlier periods white clay (kaolin) was used. There is only one factory operating in Uji near Kyoto which produces Gofun from oyster shells. The following pigments were used in Japanese paintings from the 8th century: kaolin, white lead, vermilion, red lead, iron oxide red, yellow ocher, gamboge, litharge, malachite, azurite, chinese ink, gold, and silver.