Weaving, Dyeing and Carving (Part Two)

Name: Weaving, Dyeing and Carving (Part Two)
ISBN: 9787807116981

Xing ChunruLiaohai Publishing House · ChinaApr 2025

2.1

Word count: 70 words
Chapters: 7
ISBN: 9787807116981

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Summary

Although "A History of Chinese Art" is not the first art encyclopedia published in China, it is currently the most comprehensive and largest in scope, with 3 million words of text and over 3,000 images. Organized into 35 volumes by subject—including painting, calligraphy, architecture, sculpture, music, dance, literature, theater, film and television, arts and crafts, folk art, and art collecting—it represents another bold and successful endeavor in Chinese publishing.

Editor's review

Weaving, Dyeing and Carving (Volume 2) is the arts and crafts volume in Liaohai Publishing House's "Encyclopedia of Chinese Culture" series, edited by Xing Chunru. Continuing the scholarly approach of Volume 1, it systematically traces the development and technical achievements of weaving, dyeing and carving in ancient China. Unlike comparable histories of craft, it examines these three crafts within a single cultural-historical framework, revealing how they interacted with social life, ritual norms and changing aesthetics. Its discussions of Ming and Qing Jiangnan weaving, blue calico, and jade and ivory carving are especially detailed, with numerous process diagrams and photographs of artifacts that make it both scholarly and accessible. Though it studies traditional crafts, its clear presentation avoids overly technical jargon, making it a suitable introduction for enthusiasts of traditional culture. For contemporary designers, its accounts of pattern evolution and materials and techniques remain valuable references.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of traditional Chinese arts and crafts (textiles, dyeing, carving)
Art students or design professionals seeking to understand traditional techniques and patterns
History and culture enthusiasts who want a systematic understanding of ancient handicrafts and their relationship to society and culture
Those working in intangible cultural heritage preservation or folk craft research

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light, entertaining fiction
Pragmatists looking for modern design cases or commercial application guides

Reading tips

Begin by browsing the illustrations and captions to form an intuitive impression of finished crafts
Read with regional cultural context in mind, such as Suzhou imperial weaving or Huizhou carving
Do not dwell excessively on technical terms; focus on the historical development and cultural significance of the crafts

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.

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FAQ

Do I need a professional art background to understand this book?

No. This is a popular cultural book written in plain language with abundant diagrams, fully accessible to general readers.

How is the content divided between the two volumes?

Volume 1 covers craft development from the pre-Qin period through the Tang and Song dynasties; Volume 2 focuses on the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and explores the technical details and cultural significance of the three crafts in depth.

Does the book cover modern craft?

The book deals mainly with traditional Chinese crafts up to the late Qing and early Republic, and does not address 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.