As material products, arts and crafts reflect the material and cultural production levels of specific eras and societies; as spiritual products, their visual representations (modeling, colors, decorations) embody the aesthetic values of their times. China's craft production dates back to early periods, such as painted pottery from the Neolithic Age, incised white pottery predating the Shang Dynasty, and jade artifacts from the Shang Dynasty. These works demonstrate strong practicality and artistry through realistic forms and stylized patterns. Their production often exhibits distinct stylistic characteristics influenced by historical periods, geographical environments, economic conditions, cultural-technological levels, ethnic customs, and aesthetic preferences.
In China, arts and crafts have been included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage protection list under two categories: traditional fine arts and traditional handicraft skills, constituting significant components of intangible cultural heritage. In 2017, the State Council issued The Plan for the Revitalization of Traditional Chinese Crafts, further advancing the development of China's arts and crafts industry. In the new era, arts and crafts are being dynamically presented through new media and contextual frameworks, integrating into daily life with diversified forms, ushering in fresh developmental opportunities.
CnOpenData presents the National Masters of Arts and Crafts Information Database, containing career profiles of national-level, Asia-Pacific-level, provincial-level masters, and selected practitioners across 11 categories including sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, lacquerware, floral art, weaving, embroidery, tapestry, jewelry, ethnic crafts, and others. The dataset encompasses rich biographical texts, offering highly valuable personal profile data.
Time Coverage
As of April 15, 2023
Field Display
Sample Data
Data Update Frequency
Annual updates