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.
Yin et al. (Fri,) studied this question.