在人類文化發生的同時，先民即會利用“染”與“織”來增加服飾的美觀及實用性，或藉以顯示個人、族群文化、藝術的風貌，因此，染色工藝常隨著社會的變遷及個人的需求，而發展成各具特色的民族工藝。中國和印度是世界染色工藝的兩大發源地，因著兩國染織品和染色技術的輸出，促進了世界各地染色工藝的發展。 　　本文主要是依據史料、出土文物、博物館資料、專家學者的論著及現今的事物，將中國、印度、日本、琉球、印尼、爪哇、馬來亞、波斯、埃及、安地斯、歐洲等地區的染色工藝發展概況，加以探討、統整。文中主要內容包括：（一）中國染色工藝的傳承與發展（二）世界各地區的染色工藝發展概況（三）現代染色工藝發展趨勢。 　　研究者撰寫本文的目的，是為提供給一般社會人士及學生，作為學習染色工藝的參考資料，並期盼社會大眾對優美的染色文化有所認識，共同將其發揚光大。

　　　　　 Our pioneers could utilize skils of "dyeing "and "Weaving" , at the same time as the culture of mankind occurred, in order to increase it's external beauty and practical use or to reveal personal or features of tribe culture. Therefore, owing to the changing society and personal needs, dyeing craft usually develop into tribe craft with different features. In the World, China and India are the main two origins of dyeing craft. Because of the export of dyeing products and techniques, it promotes the development of dyeing craft of all over the world. This paper is mainly based on literature review, exsavated folkware, museum's manterials and works of experts and scholars, to investigate and synthesize the general situation of dyeing craft's development in China, India, Japan, Okinawa, Indonesia, Java, Malaya, Persian, Andes, Egypt and Europe. The major content includes: 1.The development and bequest of chinese dyeing craft. 2.The general situation of dyeing craft's development in different areas. 3.The trends of the modern dyeing craft. The main purpose of writing this paper for the writer, is to provide it as a reference for people or students to learn dyeing craft. Also, the writer expects people to get to know its beauty and develop it together.