In the 19th century, western technology was imported into China, and many traditional Chinese handicrafts declined with the advent of machinery and mass production.
清朝中葉以後，中國人閉關自守的形勢被迫打開，西方新的工業技術相繼輸入後，許多中國固有的工藝經不起西方機械大量生產的衝擊而日趨沒落。