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Between morality, science, and craftsmanship

The origins and localized characteristics of Chinese pattern design

ORCiD logo with link | Tongji University
 | Tongji University
Published online: 5 June 2026
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https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.25008.yin
Abstract
This paper examines the epistemological development of modern Chinese pattern design. Through an analysis of historical literature, it argues that the formation of early Chinese design knowledge was not merely an extension of technical rationality, but was rooted in a broader epistemological framework shaped by ethical cultivation and social instruction. This framework is characterized by two localized features: idea preceding form and form shaped according to material conditions. It emphasizes not only the application of natural principles but also humanistic concern and ethical responsibility. This perspective offers new epistemological insights and methodological inspiration for contemporary information design.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Philosophical foundations of moral gezhi and scientific gezhi
  • 3.The origins of Chinese pattern design in modern arts and crafts
    • 3.1The introduction and localization of the concept of Ishō
    • 3.2Bauhaus ideals and the principle of beauty and utility
  • 4.The localized characteristics of modern Chinese pattern design
    • 4.1Idea preceding form: The aesthetic pursuit of symbolic meaning and ethical order
    • 4.2Form shaped according to material conditions: The practical rationality of material, structure, and technique
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • References
References (26)
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