MA CCD 2014 Dissertation: New Approaches in Chinese Craftsmanship: 2008;2014 Skye Y Mo 1 Introduction The Arts and Crafts Movement is one of the most profound and far;reaching design movements of modern times. It has influenced social reform across a broad spectrum of society, at all levels. Chinese manufacturers currently have a unique potential to shed their reputation as the “World’s factory” for poor quality ‘Made in China’ products, and reinvent themselves. After the global recession and hosting the Olympics in 2008, the whole country has been quick to focus on becoming self;sufficient, both materially and culturally. Traditional Chinese craftsmanship has intersected with a number of sustainability issues, across art, design and manufacturing; urban and rural alike. The Arts and Crafts Movement promoted ideas of craftsmanship, individualism, and the integration of art into everyday life, aiming to bring artistic taste to industrial production. Emphasis was put on the importance of finished work by individual craftsmen. The Arts and Crafts movement was shown cooperative production intended for commercial manufacture, which can induct into Chinese circumstances. China preserved ancient wisdom in harmony with mother;nature until the Second World War and the rapid pace of urban growth and industrialisation from the West. Putting the blurry chronology of Chinese modern design aside, Chinese Craft culture has been more consistent. Rising from the Warring States Period, Chinese craftsmen have played an important role throughout the last two thousand years. Coincidentally, Arts and Craft’s iconic style such as ‘nature motif’, ‘vernacular’ and ‘true to materials’ were already a shared value within various Chinese vernacular crafts since ancient times. Robert Blauner captures the opportunity of today in Work Satisfaction and Industrial Trends: “In modern society there is far greater scope for skill and craftsmanship than in any previous society.” The scope of this paper does not include examining the variety of styles in either Chinese craftsmanship history or the 19th Century Arts and Crafts Movement. That is a broad and interesting topic deserving of it’s own focused research.