Large areas were given over to lacquer plantations. At that time, a graduate of the Tokyo Fine Arts Academy named Yamanaga established the Yamanaga Fine Arts Lacquer Factory in Taiwan. When Chen was 13, he went to work there as an apprentice and began to learn the craft.
之後畢業於日本東京美術學校的日人山中公在台灣成立「山中工藝美術漆器製造所」，而當時十三歲的陳火慶進入製造所開始學習漆器製造。