In ancient China, the use of handicrafts involved almost every level of society. In the natural economic environment of "men plowing and women weaving", handicrafts provide most of the social and life needs, ranging from emperors' dresses and rituals to small wedding dresses and paper horses. In particular, the demand for high-end handicrafts in the courts and favored bureaucracy has greatly stimulated its production, bringing the skills of gold, jade, lacquer, wood, silk, embroidery and other industries to the peak.
However, the sudden change of the political system caused by the Revolution of 1911 caused the wearing of flowers and dragon robes and beads to be abolished overnight, and the handicrafts with the mark of feudal grade immediately lost the market. This is an aspect of market shrinkage. On the other hand, since the late Qing Dynasty, Western daily necessities have been imported into China, such as foreign cloth, foreign oil lamps, foreign fire, foreign socks, electric fans, electric lamps, clocks, etc., gradually occupying the market of the metropolis, even Cixi and Guangxu Piano and sofa.
In 1893 (the 19th year of Guangxu), 6,325 electric lamps were installed in Shanghai, which reached 9091 the following year. Subsequently, electric lights were installed in Beijing and Tianjin, including the Imperial Palace Forbidden Garden (Jiao Runming: "History of Modern Chinese Culture"). In this way, the production of practical handicrafts must be squeezed out.