Final answer:
Chinese artisans expanded luxury goods through a tribute system that enabled cultural exchange and trade, contributing to the spread and sophistication of luxury items in society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chinese artisans were able to expand luxury goods through several methods, with a significant aspect being the tribute system, which facilitated cultural exchange and trade. Foreign merchants brought to China specialty items such as ivory and spices, directly boosting the luxury trade. Moreover, the tribute system established China as a sophisticated empire interested in cultural exchanges, which indirectly promoted Chinese goods and luxury items. The Song Dynasty was particularly notable for its expansion of commerce and luxury goods. Artisans and merchants in Hangzhou, for example, were organized into guilds, which covered a wide range of economic activities and facilitated the production and trade of luxury goods, including gold-speckled folding fans from Japan and porcelain. This commercial wealth was not just peripheral; it was integrated into the very fabric of Chinese society and contributed to the spread and refinement of luxury goods.