[Handcrafts in China from the 10(th) to 12 (th) centuries : Between learned curiosity and bureaucratic expertise.].
This study deals with collective representations of handcrafts, which were elaborated by the Song (960-1279) literati. Stirred by the strong demand of urban populations, this ideology was constituted combining the literati's interpretations of the classical tradition, the social promotion of talent and technical know-how, and the standardization of specialized knowledge in response to government demands. This process had a long-term social impact, in terms of both the professional identity of workers, and the social perceptions of technical knowledge.
Lamouroux
Christian
C
Centre d'études sur la Chine moderne et contemporaine, EHESS, 54, boulevard Raspail, F-75006, Paris, France, lamourou@ehess.fr.