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Technological Transmission and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese- Style Textiles on the Maritime Silk Road (17th–19th Centuries)

Research on Art Design / 2026,1(1): 90-96 / 2026-01-19 19 8

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• Authors: Jun Yan
• Information:

  Wuhan Textile University, School of Innovation & Design Wtu, Wuhan

• Keywords:
  Chinese-style textiles; Textile craftsmanship; Maritime Silk Road; Cross-cultural design; Material culture
• Abstract: During the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, global maritime trade expansion facilitated the circulation of Chinese-style textiles along the Maritime Silk Road. Distinguished by refined craftsmanship and distinctive decorative patterns, these textiles disseminated across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan, serving as critical media for cross-cultural design exchange. Beyond their function as trade commodities, Chinese-style textiles embodied transferable craft knowledge, including embroidery, weaving, and gold-thread techniques. Through maritime networks and commercial institutions, these techniques underwent selective adaptation to local materials, aesthetic preferences, and production systems. This study examines the technological features and cross-cultural transformations of Chinese-style textiles to explore how textile craftsmanship was reinterpreted across diverse regional contexts. Case studies from Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia reveal that textile technology transmission catalyzed local design innovation and reshaped material production in the pre-industrial era. This research positions textile craftsmanship as an active agent in early modern global design exchange and contributes a material-based perspective to Maritime Silk Road studies.
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/rad.0101009 (registering DOI)
• Cite: Yan, J. (2026). Technological Transmission and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese-Style Textiles on the Maritime Silk Road (17th–19th Centuries). Research on Art Design, 1(1), 90-96.