Weaving, Dyeing and Carving (Part Two) cover

Weaving, Dyeing and Carving (Part Two)

Rating 3.4
Word count
48K words
Chapters
5
ISBN
9787807116981

Tags

Summary

This book seeks to describe the history of different art categories accurately and concisely, while highlighting key events, figures, and works, in the hope of reflecting the current level of disciplinary development and incorporating the latest research findings. The writing is intended to be accessible, vivid, and fluent, while also emphasizing sound artistic analysis and accurate evaluation of works; the book is thus systematic, scholarly, and readable.

Editor's review

Weaving, Dyeing and Carving (Volume Two) is the craft arts volume in Liaohai Publishing House's "Encyclopedia of Chinese Culture" series, edited by Xing Chunru. Continuing the academic thread of the first volume, it systematically traces the development and technical achievements of weaving, printing and dyeing, and carving in ancient China. Compared with similar histories of craft, its distinctive feature is that it examines the three craft categories within a unified cultural-historical framework, revealing their interplay in social life, ritual norms and changing aesthetics. Its discussions of such topics as Jiangnan weaving workshops in the Ming and Qing dynasties, blue calico, and jade and ivory carving are especially detailed, and it is illustrated with numerous process diagrams and photographs of artifacts, combining professionalism with readability. Notably, although it studies traditional crafts, its approach is clear and avoids overly abstruse technical jargon, making it a suitable introductory read for enthusiasts of traditional culture who wish to learn about the craft arts. For contemporary designers, its records of pattern evolution and materials and techniques remain an important reference.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers interested in the development history of traditional Chinese arts and crafts (textiles, dyeing and printing, and carving)
  • Students at art colleges or design professionals who need to understand traditional craft techniques and patterns
  • History and culture enthusiasts who wish to gain a systematic understanding of the relationship between ancient handicrafts and social culture
  • Those involved in intangible cultural heritage protection or folk craft research

Not a good fit for

  • Readers seeking light, entertaining reading or fictional stories
  • Pragmatists looking for modern design cases or commercial application guides

Reading tips

  1. It is recommended to first browse the illustrations and captions in the book to build an intuitive impression of finished craft works
  2. Read in conjunction with regional cultural contexts, such as the local characteristics of Suzhou imperial weaving or Huizhou carving
  3. There is no need to delve excessively into technical terms; focus on grasping the historical trajectory and cultural significance of craft development

About the publisher

Liaohai Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Liaohai Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for textbooks and the collation of ancient works. Its publishing scope covers state-approved textbooks, local curriculum materials, supplementary educational books, and national and local ancient-text compilation projects, while also extending into humanities fields such as Eastern philosophy. Its catalog contains about 4,694 titles, with representative works including the multi-volume Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and its author resources include classic writers and works such as Sima Qian and Confucius. Grounded in educational publishing and the transmission of traditional culture, the press maintains sustained investment in ancient-text collation, forming a publishing profile that balances textbooks and scholarship. Due to limited public information, its more specific publishing directions and features require further supplementation.

Contents

  1. 前言
  2. 隋唐织染雕刻工艺
  3. 宋元织染雕刻工艺
  4. 明清织染雕刻工艺
  5. 后记

FAQ

Does this book require a professional art background to understand?
No. This is a cultural popularization book written in plain language and illustrated with numerous diagrams, so general readers can fully understand it.
How is the content divided between the two volumes?
The first volume mainly covers craft development from the pre-Qin period to the Tang and Song dynasties, while the second volume focuses on the Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods and explores the technical details and cultural connotations of the three major crafts in depth.
Does the book include content on modern crafts?
This book mainly discusses traditional Chinese crafts, ending in the late Qing and early Republican period, and does not cover modern industrial design or contemporary artistic creation.

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About the author

Xing Chunru Author · China

Xing Chunru is a Chinese full-time book editor about whom publicly available information is limited. He has long compiled popular series for institutions such as Liaohai Publishing House. His output is considerable, with more than 700 titles held in the collection, covering fields such as art history, science and military affairs, politics and history, language and writing, and film and television. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Part II), A History of Chinese Art, A History of Chinese Science and Technology, A Course in the Art of Language, Famous Paintings and Masterpieces, and the series A Grand Garden of Chinese Cultural Knowledge. These books present specialized knowledge in an accessible style, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, and are intended for young readers and general audiences, helping to popularize and guide understanding of traditional culture, art appreciation, and language expression.

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