As material products, arts and crafts reflect the material and cultural production levels of a specific era and society; as spiritual products, their visual imagery (modeling, colors, decoration) embodies the aesthetic values of a particular era. The production of arts and crafts in China emerged early—for instance, painted pottery appeared in the Neolithic Age, engraved white pottery before the Shang Dynasty, and jade artifacts during the Shang Dynasty. Their realistic forms and patterned techniques demonstrate strong practicality and artistry. Their production often exhibits distinct stylistic characteristics due to differences in historical periods, geographical environments, economic conditions, cultural and technical levels, ethnic customs, and aesthetic perspectives.
In China, arts and crafts are included in the intangible cultural heritage protection list under two categories: traditional arts and traditional handicraft skills, making them a significant domain 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 sector. In the new era, arts and crafts will achieve dynamic, life-oriented, and diverse presentations through new media and contexts, ushering in new developmental opportunities.
CnOpenData introduces the National Arts and Crafts Masters Information Data, encompassing personal experiences of national, Asia-Pacific, provincial-level masters, and some enthusiast practitioners across 11 categories including sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, lacquerware, floral painting, weaving, embroidery, tapestry, jewelry, ethnic crafts, and others. The dataset contains rich biographical summaries, serving as highly valuable textual data on individuals.
Time Coverage
As of April 15, 2023 (updatable as needed)
Field Display
Sample Data
Data Update Frequency
Annual updates