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Created page with " This document defines how factual verification is conducted within the Craftpedia ecosystem. It applies to all languages, all regional portals, and all types of craft-related articles. The aim of this guide is to ensure that Craftpedia articles meet a high standard of historical and cultural accuracy, aligned with museum-grade documentation practices. __TOC__ == Purpose of This Guide == The Fact-checking Guide establishes: * what must be fact-checked; * where relia..."
 
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This document defines how factual verification is conducted within the Craftpedia ecosystem.   
This document defines how factual verification is conducted within the Craftpedia ecosystem.   
It applies to all languages, all regional portals, and all types of craft-related articles.
It applies to all languages, all regional portals and all types of craft-related articles.


The aim of this guide is to ensure that Craftpedia articles meet a high standard of historical and cultural accuracy, aligned with museum-grade documentation practices.
The aim of this guide is to ensure that Craftpedia articles maintain a high standard of historical and cultural accuracy, aligned with museum-grade documentation practices.


__TOC__
__TOC__
Line 11: Line 10:
* what must be fact-checked;
* what must be fact-checked;
* where reliable information should be sourced from;
* where reliable information should be sourced from;
* which sources are acceptable or unacceptable;
* how fact-checkers introduce new information responsibly;
* procedures for identifying and correcting inaccuracies;
* procedures for identifying and correcting inaccuracies;
* best practices for verifying terminology, dates, origins, and cultural contexts.
* best practices for verifying terminology, dates, origins, and cultural contexts.


Fact-checkers ensure that Craftpedia remains a trustworthy, academically oriented digital resource.
Fact-checkers help ensure that Craftpedia remains a trustworthy, academically oriented digital resource.


== Role of the Fact-checker ==
== Role of the Fact-checker ==
The fact-checker focuses on '''content accuracy''', not language quality.
The fact-checker focuses on '''content accuracy''', not language or style.


Their responsibilities include:
Their responsibilities include:
* verifying historical facts, dates, origins, and attributions;   
* verifying historical facts, dates, origins, and attributions;   
* checking claims about techniques, materials, and regional variations;   
* checking claims about materials, techniques, and regional variations;   
* confirming terminology against museum and academic usage;   
* confirming terminology against museum and academic usage;   
* identifying unsupported or ambiguous statements;   
* identifying unsupported or ambiguous statements;   
* ensuring citations are present where needed.
* ensuring that references are authoritative and correctly applied.
 
=== Introducing New Information ===
A fact-checker '''may introduce new facts''' if the following conditions are met:
 
* the information is fully supported by reliable, authoritative sources; 
* the source is clearly cited in the references section; 
* the fact-checker provides enough bibliographic detail for others to verify the source; 
* no speculative, interpretive, or unsourced content is added.
 
In other words:
> Fact-checkers may expand and improve articles, but must base all added information on transparent, authoritative evidence.


A fact-checker must not:
Editors reviewing the article do not need to re-check the fact-checker’s research process; 
* rewrite text for style (this is the proofreader’s job);  
they only need to confirm:
* introduce new facts not supported by reliable sources; 
* that the source is clearly cited, and  
* rely on unverified websites, blogs, or commercial descriptions.
* that the source is authoritative.


== What Must Be Fact-checked ==
== What Must Be Fact-checked ==
Line 36: Line 46:


=== Historical Background ===
=== Historical Background ===
* origin periods and centuries;   
* origin dates and centuries;   
* dynasties, eras, historical transitions;   
* dynasties, eras, and transitions (e.g., Edo period, Ming dynasty);   
* dates of major developments or technological innovations.
* development of techniques over time.


=== Geographical Information ===
=== Geographical Information ===
* correct region, prefecture, province, or cultural group;   
* region, prefecture, province, or cultural group;   
* accurate mapping of regional variations;   
* proper identification of regional schools or styles;   
* confirmation of cross-border influences (e.g., China → Korea Japan).
* cross-regional influences (e.g., Korean Japanese porcelain).


=== Materials and Techniques ===
=== Materials and Techniques ===
* accurate description of raw materials;   
* raw materials and their properties;   
* correctness of chemical or physical properties (e.g., clay composition, metal alloys);   
* accurate description of processes and methods;   
* proper identification of techniques used in each craft tradition.
* identification of distinctive technical features.


=== Terminology ===
=== Terminology ===
* correct craft names (in English and original language);   
* correct craft names (English + original language);   
* appropriate transliteration;   
* correct transliteration;   
* correct spelling of historical periods and dynasties; 
* accurate naming of periods, styles, and technical terms.
* correct use of terms such as “stoneware,” “porcelain,” “lacquer,” “casting,” etc.


=== Cultural Significance ===
=== Cultural Significance ===
* claims about rituals, symbolic meaning, and religious use;   
* ritual use; 
* statements about social status or community role.
* symbolic meaning;   
* connections to festivals or ceremonies; 
* social or historical importance.


=== Modern Developments ===
=== Modern Developments ===
* information about current artists, studios, or revival movements;   
* contemporary workshops or revival movements;   
* connections to museums or exhibitions;   
* notable modern artists;   
* references to contemporary usage.
* museum collections.


=== Numerical Claims ===
=== Numerical Claims ===
* dates   
* dates;  
* production counts  
* centuries;  
* population or workshop numbers  
* production counts (if applicable);  
* chronological ranges
* chronological ranges.


Any statement that relies on numbers must be verified.
Every number must be verified.


== Acceptable Sources ==
== Acceptable Sources ==
Fact-checkers must rely on authoritative, reputable, and academically grounded sources.
Fact-checkers must rely on authoritative, reputable, and academically grounded sources.


=== Primary Categories of Acceptable Sources ===
=== Primary Sources of High Authority ===
* museum publications and catalogues;   
* museum catalogues and collection descriptions; 
* university presses and academic monographs;   
* publications from major museums (e.g., Tokyo National Museum, British Museum, Met Museum);   
* academic monographs and university press books; 
* archaeological reports;   
* peer-reviewed journal articles;   
* peer-reviewed journal articles;   
* archaeological reports; 
* publications from cultural heritage institutions (e.g., UNESCO, Agency for Cultural Affairs Japan).
* official documents from cultural institutions
* major historical dictionaries or encyclopedias; 
* authoritative government cultural heritage descriptions.


=== Acceptable Online Sources ===
=== Acceptable Online Sources ===
* museum websites (e.g., British Museum, Tokyo National Museum, Met Museum);   
* official museum websites;   
* university-hosted resources (.edu);   
* university-hosted resources (.edu, .ac domains);   
* digitized museum catalogues; 
* digitized academic repositories.
* established scholarly organizations (e.g., UNESCO, ICOM).


=== Sources That Require Caution ===
=== Sources Requiring Caution ===
* commercial websites (shops, auction houses);   
* artisan websites;   
* artisan self-descriptions;   
* auction houses;   
* tourist websites;   
* commercial and tourist sites;   
* blogs and informal forums.
* general-interest blogs.


These sources may contain useful insights, but cannot be used to verify factual information.
These may offer context but are not authoritative for historical or technical facts.


=== Unacceptable Sources ===
=== Unacceptable Sources ===
* Wikipedia (may be used for orientation, but not as a citation);   
* Wikipedia (use only for orientation, never as a citation);   
* machine-generated content;   
* AI-generated content;   
* AI-written descriptions without human verification; 
* personal blogs;   
* promotional or marketing texts;   
* unsourced claims from random websites.
* unreferenced claims from random websites.


== How to Check a Fact ==
== How to Check a Fact ==
Fact-checkers should follow a structured process:
Fact-checkers should use the following process:


# Identify the claim.   
# Identify the statement that requires verification.   
# Locate one or more reliable sources that confirm or deny it.   
# Consult one or more authoritative sources.   
# Compare terminology and phrasing across sources.   
# Compare terminology and phrasing across sources.   
# Ensure that the meaning is correctly reflected in the article.   
# Ensure the meaning is correctly represented in the article.   
# Document the source in the article’s references section.   
# Insert or update citations accordingly.   
# Flag ambiguous or disputed claims for editorial review.
# Document major corrections in the edit summary or talk page.


If conflicting information appears:
If sources conflict:
* prefer museum or academic sources over all others;   
* prefer academic or museum sources;   
* document the inconsistency in an editorial note if necessary.
* explain the conflict in neutral terms if necessary.


== Handling Disputed or Uncertain Information ==
== Handling Disputed or Uncertain Information ==
Some crafts have multiple origin stories, conflicting dates, or ambiguous terminology.
Some crafts have ambiguous origins, contested dates, or multiple scholarly interpretations.


In such cases:
In such cases:
* present the most widely accepted interpretation;   
* present the most widely accepted interpretation;   
* acknowledge alternative interpretations when academically recognized;   
* mention alternative interpretations when academically recognized;   
* avoid definitive wording for uncertain claims; 
* use cautious phrasing (e.g., “some sources suggest,” “scholars disagree,” “it is believed that”).
* clearly attribute perspectives to sources.


Example:
Example:
: Some scholars attribute the origin of the technique to the late 16th century, while others suggest an early 17th-century development.
: Some researchers attribute the origin of this technique to the early 17th century, while others suggest a late 16th-century development.
 
== Fact-checking Translated Articles ==
When reviewing translations, fact-checkers must ensure:


== Checking Translated Articles ==
* no new unsourced claims were introduced;   
For translations:
* technical terms remain accurate;   
* check that factual meaning has not shifted;   
* cultural and historical details match the original; 
* verify that no new “facts” were added during translation;   
* the translation does not distort the meaning of the source article;   
* confirm that craft names, place names, and period terminology match authoritative usage;   
* transliterations remain correct.
* ensure that culturally sensitive terms are correct.


Common problems in translations:
Common issues in translations:
* mistranslated technical terms;   
* mistranslated period names;   
* incorrect period names;   
* incorrect geographic terminology;   
* wrong regional references;   
* oversimplified technical descriptions;   
* loss of detail about materials or techniques.
* loss of precision.


== What to Do When an Error Is Found ==
== What to Do When an Error Is Found ==
If a fact-checker discovers an error:
If an error is identified:


* correct the factual statement;   
* correct the factual statement;   
* update the reference section accordingly;   
* supply a proper citation;   
* leave an edit summary explaining the correction;   
* add an explanatory note if needed; 
* notify translators if other languages are affected; 
* record major corrections in the edit summary;   
* record major corrections on the article’s discussion page.
* notify translators if other languages must be updated.


Fact-checkers should avoid:
Fact-checkers should avoid rewriting large sections without coordination, unless the content is demonstrably incorrect.
* rewriting large portions of the article without coordination
* removing text unless it is demonstrably incorrect or unsupported.


== Citations and References ==
== Citations and References ==
Every article must include:
Every article must:
* at least one authoritative reference;   
 
* citations for statements of high significance (origin dates, major features, historical claims).
* cite authoritative sources for major facts;   
* include full bibliographic information; 
* ensure that citations correspond directly to claims in the text.


Fact-checkers must ensure:
Fact-checkers must confirm:
* references are properly formatted;   
* the reference is authoritative;   
* sources are clearly identifiable;   
* the reference actually supports the claim;   
* references correspond to actual claims in the article.
* the citation is properly formatted.


== Version Control and Coordination ==
== Version Control and Coordination ==
Fact-checkers should:
Fact-checkers should:


* monitor changes to key articles;   
* monitor significant updates to articles; 
* communicate with translators when factual updates are necessary;   
* ensure consistency across related articles;   
* ensure that factual corrections are reflected across all language versions
* communicate terminology issues to translators and editors;   
* keep lists of references commonly used for major craft families.
* review changes that affect multiple language versions.


Large edits or reinterpretations should be discussed with:
Large updates (e.g., new archaeological evidence or reclassification of a craft) should be documented on the talk page.
* editors, 
* translators, 
* proofreaders, 
* or the project lead (where applicable).


== Common Pitfalls ==
== Common Pitfalls ==
Fact-checkers must be careful about:
Fact-checkers must avoid:


* relying on Wikipedia instead of its cited sources;   
* relying on Wikipedia instead of its sources;   
* accepting simplified or romanticized interpretations;   
* treating popular websites as authoritative;   
* assuming regional terms are interchangeable;   
* using outdated or superseded terminology;   
* trusting commercial sites for historical claims;   
* assuming information from one craft applies to another;   
* confusing similar crafts (e.g., export porcelain variants);   
* ignoring contradictions in sources;   
* overlooking conflicting dates or regional attributions; 
* accepting simplified descriptions from non-scholarly sources.
* assuming that a museum’s terminology must match local terminology (e.g., British Museum terms vs. Japanese terms).


== When Fact-checking Is Complete ==
== When Fact-checking Is Complete ==
A fact-checker may consider the article ready when:
A fact-checker may consider an article complete when:


* all major factual statements are verified;   
* all major claims are verified;   
* terminology and transliteration are correct;   
* terminology matches authoritative usage;   
* references are present and authoritative;   
* references are present and reliable;   
* any uncertainties are clearly documented;   
* any disputed facts are properly documented;   
* no contradictions or unsupported claims remain.
* no unsupported or ambiguous statements remain.


== Version History ==
== Version History ==
* 1.1 – Clarified fact-checker responsibilities and added transparent sourcing requirements 
* 1.0 – Initial release (English)
* 1.0 – Initial release (English)

Latest revision as of 06:14, 29 November 2025

This document defines how factual verification is conducted within the Craftpedia ecosystem. It applies to all languages, all regional portals and all types of craft-related articles.

The aim of this guide is to ensure that Craftpedia articles maintain a high standard of historical and cultural accuracy, aligned with museum-grade documentation practices.

Purpose of This Guide

[edit]

The Fact-checking Guide establishes:

  • what must be fact-checked;
  • where reliable information should be sourced from;
  • how fact-checkers introduce new information responsibly;
  • procedures for identifying and correcting inaccuracies;
  • best practices for verifying terminology, dates, origins, and cultural contexts.

Fact-checkers help ensure that Craftpedia remains a trustworthy, academically oriented digital resource.

Role of the Fact-checker

[edit]

The fact-checker focuses on content accuracy, not language or style.

Their responsibilities include:

  • verifying historical facts, dates, origins, and attributions;
  • checking claims about materials, techniques, and regional variations;
  • confirming terminology against museum and academic usage;
  • identifying unsupported or ambiguous statements;
  • ensuring that references are authoritative and correctly applied.

Introducing New Information

[edit]

A fact-checker may introduce new facts if the following conditions are met:

  • the information is fully supported by reliable, authoritative sources;
  • the source is clearly cited in the references section;
  • the fact-checker provides enough bibliographic detail for others to verify the source;
  • no speculative, interpretive, or unsourced content is added.

In other words: > Fact-checkers may expand and improve articles, but must base all added information on transparent, authoritative evidence.

Editors reviewing the article do not need to re-check the fact-checker’s research process; they only need to confirm:

  • that the source is clearly cited, and
  • that the source is authoritative.

What Must Be Fact-checked

[edit]

Fact-checkers must verify the following categories of information:

Historical Background

[edit]
  • origin dates and centuries;
  • dynasties, eras, and transitions (e.g., Edo period, Ming dynasty);
  • development of techniques over time.

Geographical Information

[edit]
  • region, prefecture, province, or cultural group;
  • proper identification of regional schools or styles;
  • cross-regional influences (e.g., Korean → Japanese porcelain).

Materials and Techniques

[edit]
  • raw materials and their properties;
  • accurate description of processes and methods;
  • identification of distinctive technical features.

Terminology

[edit]
  • correct craft names (English + original language);
  • correct transliteration;
  • accurate naming of periods, styles, and technical terms.

Cultural Significance

[edit]
  • ritual use;
  • symbolic meaning;
  • connections to festivals or ceremonies;
  • social or historical importance.

Modern Developments

[edit]
  • contemporary workshops or revival movements;
  • notable modern artists;
  • museum collections.

Numerical Claims

[edit]
  • dates;
  • centuries;
  • production counts (if applicable);
  • chronological ranges.

Every number must be verified.

Acceptable Sources

[edit]

Fact-checkers must rely on authoritative, reputable, and academically grounded sources.

Primary Sources of High Authority

[edit]
  • museum catalogues and collection descriptions;
  • publications from major museums (e.g., Tokyo National Museum, British Museum, Met Museum);
  • academic monographs and university press books;
  • archaeological reports;
  • peer-reviewed journal articles;
  • publications from cultural heritage institutions (e.g., UNESCO, Agency for Cultural Affairs Japan).

Acceptable Online Sources

[edit]
  • official museum websites;
  • university-hosted resources (.edu, .ac domains);
  • digitized academic repositories.

Sources Requiring Caution

[edit]
  • artisan websites;
  • auction houses;
  • commercial and tourist sites;
  • general-interest blogs.

These may offer context but are not authoritative for historical or technical facts.

Unacceptable Sources

[edit]
  • Wikipedia (use only for orientation, never as a citation);
  • AI-generated content;
  • personal blogs;
  • unsourced claims from random websites.

How to Check a Fact

[edit]

Fact-checkers should use the following process:

  1. Identify the statement that requires verification.
  2. Consult one or more authoritative sources.
  3. Compare terminology and phrasing across sources.
  4. Ensure the meaning is correctly represented in the article.
  5. Insert or update citations accordingly.
  6. Document major corrections in the edit summary or talk page.

If sources conflict:

  • prefer academic or museum sources;
  • explain the conflict in neutral terms if necessary.

Handling Disputed or Uncertain Information

[edit]

Some crafts have ambiguous origins, contested dates, or multiple scholarly interpretations.

In such cases:

  • present the most widely accepted interpretation;
  • mention alternative interpretations when academically recognized;
  • use cautious phrasing (e.g., “some sources suggest,” “scholars disagree,” “it is believed that”).

Example:

Some researchers attribute the origin of this technique to the early 17th century, while others suggest a late 16th-century development.

Fact-checking Translated Articles

[edit]

When reviewing translations, fact-checkers must ensure:

  • no new unsourced claims were introduced;
  • technical terms remain accurate;
  • cultural and historical details match the original;
  • the translation does not distort the meaning of the source article;
  • transliterations remain correct.

Common issues in translations:

  • mistranslated period names;
  • incorrect geographic terminology;
  • oversimplified technical descriptions;
  • loss of precision.

What to Do When an Error Is Found

[edit]

If an error is identified:

  • correct the factual statement;
  • supply a proper citation;
  • add an explanatory note if needed;
  • record major corrections in the edit summary;
  • notify translators if other languages must be updated.

Fact-checkers should avoid rewriting large sections without coordination, unless the content is demonstrably incorrect.

Citations and References

[edit]

Every article must:

  • cite authoritative sources for major facts;
  • include full bibliographic information;
  • ensure that citations correspond directly to claims in the text.

Fact-checkers must confirm:

  • the reference is authoritative;
  • the reference actually supports the claim;
  • the citation is properly formatted.

Version Control and Coordination

[edit]

Fact-checkers should:

  • monitor significant updates to articles;
  • ensure consistency across related articles;
  • communicate terminology issues to translators and editors;
  • review changes that affect multiple language versions.

Large updates (e.g., new archaeological evidence or reclassification of a craft) should be documented on the talk page.

Common Pitfalls

[edit]

Fact-checkers must avoid:

  • relying on Wikipedia instead of its sources;
  • treating popular websites as authoritative;
  • using outdated or superseded terminology;
  • assuming information from one craft applies to another;
  • ignoring contradictions in sources;
  • accepting simplified descriptions from non-scholarly sources.

When Fact-checking Is Complete

[edit]

A fact-checker may consider an article complete when:

  • all major claims are verified;
  • terminology matches authoritative usage;
  • references are present and reliable;
  • any disputed facts are properly documented;
  • no unsupported or ambiguous statements remain.

Version History

[edit]
  • 1.1 – Clarified fact-checker responsibilities and added transparent sourcing requirements
  • 1.0 – Initial release (English)