Discover the artistry of tradition with the Cathay Pens Dao, a writing instrument that embodies the elegance of hand-finished Urushi lacquer and striking historical design. Crafted in Luoyang—China’s ancient capital and a renowned center of fine craftsmanship—each pen is meticulously lacquered by master artisans using the Tamenuri technique. This time-honored method layers translucent colored Urushi over a dark base, creating depth and warmth that gradually reveals rich undertones as the finish ages.

At Cathay, we take this process further. Each Tamenuri pen is finished with extra layers of clear Urushi beyond industry standards. As a result, the pen emerges from the box with a deeper, darker appearance—an intentional beginning rather than a final state. With time and use, the clear Urushi slowly becomes more translucent, allowing the underlying colors to surface with increasing clarity and complexity. The finish matures in your hand, shaped by the way you write and live with it.

Beneath the Urushi layers lies a core crafted from premium Ebony Wood. Known for its stability, warmth to the touch, and perfect compatibility with Urushi lacquer, this material provides the ideal foundation for the Tamenuri process while ensuring excellent balance and durability.

The shape of the pen takes its inspiration from the Yanling (Swan Feather) Dao, a historic weapon popular during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) worn by both officials and soldiers. Resembling a swan feather with its straight blade, curved tip, and back edge, the pen features an exaggerated, sweeping spine that serves as an integrated, highly functional roll-stop. This dramatic, sculpted ridge beautifully accentuates the color transitions of the Tamenuri lacquer, allowing the brilliant base colors to naturally break through along the raised fin.

Paired with our bespoke, meticulously tuned in-house Medium nib, each pen is presented in a finely made wooden box and accompanied by a beautifully crafted, hand-sewn Chinese fabric pen pouch—making the Cathay Pens Dao not only a high-performance writing instrument but a celebration of heritage and artistry.