A craftsman works with different sizes of knives at a workbench. A person with a spirit of craftsmanship usually employs a set of tools or instruments that have subtle differences between them to ensure the exquisiteness of the finished products.

 

The concept of the “spirit of craftsmanship” originated from the period of the traditional handicraft economy. It emphasizes the spirit of concentration and the pursuit of perfection. It both describes and honors these traits. In ancient times, this spirit in China and in other nations was prevalent.
 

But, nowadays, this spirit is seen to be lacking, particularly in China.

One reason, scholars have identified is the influence of modern industrialization.
 

Li He, a research fellow from the Institute of Philosophy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the spirit of craftsmanship stems from the social conditions created by the handicraft economy. At that time, tools, utensils, vessels and other instruments were produced mainly by hand by these craftsmen. There was no other model of production that could surpass manual work.
 

Therefore, many people were dedicated to one thing in their lifetime. In fact, more often than not several generations of a family were engaged in one craft or one business, through inheritance from father to son.
 

Though abundant forms of handicrafts and related traditions once existed in ancient times, few of them have survived now that the industrial mode of production is dominant. We have advanced industries and a  huge manufacturing sector, but the spirit of exquisiteness and meticulousness is scarcely found.
 

Technologies of mass production have replaced artisan crafts, and   tools can be produced by machines on a large scale.
 

What’s even worse, modern education creates a large quantity of personnel suitable for industrial production, while there is shortage of specialized training for crafts. Therefore, the craftsmanship spirit is more of a form of heritage rather than part of broader culture that is possessed by ordinary people.
 

After probing into the specific reason for the even faster disappearance of the spirit in China than in other countries like Japan and Germany, Li said that after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the transformation to public-private partnership eliminated the necessary conditions for handicraft workshops, so craftsmen went to work in big factories.

Before, one workshop supported a person and even a family’s career and livelihood. It was the property of the family, who would exert all its efforts to sustain it.
 

But in a big factory, one person’s effort and pursuit is of little significance. Therefore, people tended to lose their devotion and gave up the pursuit of perfection.
 

Li further stated that the spirit of craftsmanship is not contradicted by modernization. Rather, they can be integrated and advanced by each other.
 

In industrial times, in which integration is the trend, diversification receives less attention. But diversification still matters. We don’t want a uniform lifestyle for everyone. We need more varied products and a rich cultural life. People want to experience different geographical cultures and want individualized services, but all they get is similar souvenirs in different places. It is just an outcome of this lack of a spirit of  craftsmanship.
 

People’s diverse demands call for creativity in society, while the spirit of  craftsmanship is important for fostering creativity, Li said.
 

Striving for perfection is not only valuable for craftsmen but also relevant to all of society.
 

To put it simply, it is the spirit of loving what one does and trying to make it the best, Li said. This is especially lacking in a short-sighted society, where people are endeavoring to gain the most profit they can within the shortest time. The result is that gambling, trickery, and other social problems are emerging.
 

Creating diverse cultures and lifestyles is imperative. Human beings should have distinctive characteristics rather than mass produced. We need more creativity in cultural landscapes and more cultivation of the imagination, based on which we can create a rich and colorful world and life.