also: ひらもん
noun
hyōmon lacquerware; flat inlay lacquer
A traditional Japanese lacquer technique where metal foil or sheet is inlaid into the lacquer surface to create flat, flush designs.
この箱は平文の技法で作られた。
This box was made using the hyōmon technique.
平文は金や銀の薄板を漆に埋め込む。
Hyōmon involves inlaying thin sheets of gold or silver into lacquer.
Maki-e is a lacquer technique where designs are created by sprinkling metal powder onto wet lacquer, resulting in raised patterns, whereas hyōmon uses flat inlaid metal sheets for a flush surface.
Raden is a lacquer decoration technique using inlaid pieces of mother-of-pearl or other shell, while hyōmon specifically uses metal sheets.
The term 平文 literally means 'flat pattern' or 'flat design', referring to the flush surface created by the inlaid metal. The reading ひょうもん is the standard on'yomi reading of the characters.