It's a work that shines with a master craftsman's skill.
The skill of a master artisan lives on in this furniture.
Many skilled craftsmen took part in restoring the temple.
Only when written 工
Restricted to the spelling 工. As a standalone noun read たくみ, this use is uncommon and literary or explanatory in modern Japanese; it refers to skill, dexterity, craftsmanship, or design.
In older explanatory writing, 工 read たくみ may be used as a noun meaning technique or design.
Only when written 工
Dated use restricted to 工. It refers to a contrivance, scheme, artifice, or trick; modern Japanese would usually use words such as 策, たくらみ, or からくり instead.
In older writing, an expression like 敵の工を見破る may use 工 to mean a scheme or stratagem.
He is called a master of ceramics.
意匠 is the common modern word for design or artistic conception, while 匠 in this sense (written 工) is a rare, literary noun for skill or design.
策 is the ordinary modern word for a scheme or plan, whereas 匠 (written 工) in this meaning is a dated, literary term for a trick or contrivance.
名匠 specifically names a renowned master craftsman or artist, whereas 匠 can describe any highly skilled craftsperson without necessarily implying fame.
巧み shares the reading たくみ but is written differently and is an adjective/noun meaning 'skillful,' not a person like 匠.
counter for people
Hida carpenter tax system
Standard practical spelling for the modern meaning 'artisan' or 'master craftsman'.
Attested spelling, but uncommon as a standalone modern word read たくみ; 工 is often read differently in other contexts. The craft/skill and dated scheme senses are restricted to this spelling.
The historical derivation is uncertain. 匠 and 工 are conventional kanji spellings for たくみ, associating the word with artisans, craft, and skill, but the spelling alone should not be treated as a precise origin explanation.