Zhu Qiqian’s Nvgongzhuan zhenglve (Rectified records of women artisans) was an inspiration for his main research project Zhejianglu (Biographies of master craftsmen). As soon as it was completed，the Nvgongzhuan zhenglve became an important reference material for early-twentieth-century research on women artisans of the past. Although Zhu Qiqian collected material on many different crafts，the information on embroidery is particularly rich. This article explores the meaning of “female virtue” and “women artisans” as represented by the embroidery artisans in the Nvgongzhuan Zhenglue. Then，based on an analysis of Ding Pei’s Xiupu (Embroidery book) and Shen Shou’s Xue Yi xiupu (Embroidery book of Xue Yi)，the article elaborates the changes in the historical image of women artisans taking place over time.