Preface / 1
History and Background of the Traditional Arts and Crafts of China / 9
Arts and Crafts during the Primitive Society / 10
Arts and Crafts during the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties / 12
Arts and Crafts during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period / 15
Arts and Crafts during the Qin and Han Dynasties / 18
Arts and Crafts during the Six Dynasties / 21
Arts and Crafts during the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties / 25
Arts and Crafts during the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties / 29
Arts and Crafts during the Ming and Qing Dynasties / 33
Arts and Crafts in the Field of Utensil / 41
Ceramics / 42
Bronze Ware / 48
Lacquer / 54
Arts and Crafts in the Field of Apparel / 59
Embroidery / 60
Printing and Dyeing / 66
Silk Weaving / 69
Arts and Crafts in the Field of Furnishings / 75
Furniture / 76
Gold and Silver Ware, Glassware, Enamelware/81
Bamboo Carving, Wood Carving, Ivory Carving / 89
Arts and Crafts in the Field of Adornment / 97
Jade Artwork / 98
Paper-cut / 103
New Year Picture / 107
Arts and Crafts in the Field of Entertainment / 111
Toy / 112
Kite / 116
Puppet / 120
Silhouette / 124
Arts and Crafts in the Field of Commerce / 129
Shop Sign / 130
Packaging / 132
Legends concerning Traditional Arts and Crafts of China / 137
Yanshi and His Puppets / 140
Lu Ban, a Carpenter Consecrated by Artisans of All Crafts / 140
The Legend of Ganjiang and Moye / 141
The Legend of Brother Kilns / 142
Origin of Kesi Silk / 144
Gourd-shaped Porcelain Canteen and the Yue's Troops / 144
Qiu Changchun, the Forefather of Jade Carving in Beijing / 146
Gong Chun Teapot and Lotus-and-toad Teapot / 147
The Beauty Offered for Sacrifice / 148
Legend about Ceramics with Multicolored Glaze / 148
Origin of Bowl Bottom / 149 Origin of Wax Printing / 150
Bodiless Lacquer Ware Created by Shen Shaoan / 151
Appendix: A Brief Chronology of China / 153