The Yi ethnic group from the remote mountain regions of Southwest China is known for the elegant lacquerware they make from the wood of the native rhododendron and birch trees. Vutqui Jjivot carries on the tradition passed down to him through his father from sixteen generations of Jjivot clansmen before him. The red, yellow and black color scheme and the geometric designs and shapes are unique to this remote mountain region, as are the techniques and handmade tools with which the wooden saddles, arms and armor, dinnerware and ritual objects are made. In 1992, Vutqui established an ethnic crafts cooperative to feature the traditional arts of his ethnic group, which are now sold throughout China and as far as Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, and now the United States.