The second collection of the China Cultural Heritage Series (hereinafter “the Series”), edited by Professor Guan Xiaowu, was published in its entirety by Anhui Science and Technology Publishing House in March 2023, with the support of the National Publication Foundation.

Drawing on documentary sources and the findings of field investigations, this collection examines the techniques, culture, preservation, and transmission of four traditional crafts: traditional Beijing lacquering and polychrome painting, the making of Matouqin(horse-head stringed musical instrument ), Lu silk (luchou) weaving, and traditional cart-making in northern China. Building on the first collection, it broadens the geographic and thematic scope of the investigation and study of traditional crafts and marks new scholarly progress.

The Series examines traditional crafts and their associated cultures from fresh perspectives and employs new technical means to elucidate and reveal their technical content and underlying mechanisms, reflecting from many angles the rich diversity of China’s traditional crafts. Great care has been taken in gathering materials from a wide range of sources and in selecting illustrations, which portray not only the crafts themselves but also the spirit of their times and the artisans who practice them. Due attention is likewise given to both the technical and the socio-cultural dimensions of each craft, including trade rules, organizational structures, customs, sayings and proverbs, key figures, representative works, historical evolution, present conditions, and cultural landscapes. Through this interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach, the Series provides a richly illustrated, multi-perspective documentation of the selected traditional crafts, combining scientific rigor, scholarly value, documentary worth, and aesthetic appeal.

The publication of the Series will help advance regional and thematic surveys and comprehensive research on traditional crafts, promote the application of multidisciplinary methods and modern technical means in this field, raise public awareness of the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage, and make significant contributions to presenting China’s outstanding traditional culture and to promoting cultural exchange between China and other countries.