Chinese Cultural Heritage Research Articles

Metagenomic study of the microbiome and key geochemical potentials associated with architectural heritage sites: a case study of the Song Dynasty city wall in Shou County, China.

Historical cultural heritage sites are valuable for all of mankind, as they reflect the material and spiritual wealth of by nations, countries, or specific groups during the development of human civilization. The types and functions of microorganisms that form biofilms on the surfaces of architectural heritage sites influence measures to preserve and protect these sites. These microorganisms contribute to the biocorrosion of architectural heritage structures through the cycling of chemical elements. The ancient city wall of Shou County is a famous architectural and cultural heritage site from China's Song Dynasty, and the protection and study of this site have substantial historical and cultural significance. In this study, we used metagenomics to study the microbial diversity and taxonomic composition of the Song Dynasty city wall in Shou County, a tangible example of Chinese cultural heritage. The study covered three main topics: (1) examining the distribution of bacteria in the biofilm on the surfaces of the Song Dynasty city wall in Shou County; (2) predicting the influence of bacteria involved in the C, N, and S cycles on the corrosion of the city wall via functional gene analysis; and (3) discussing cultural heritage site protection measures for biocorrosion-related bacteria to investigate the impact of biocorrosion on the Song Dynasty city wall in Shou County, a tangible example of Chinese cultural heritage. The study revealed that (1) the biofilm bacteria mainly belonged to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, which accounted for more than 70% of the total bacteria in the biofilms. The proportion of fungi in the microbial community of the well-preserved city wall was greater than that in the damaged city wall. The proportion of archaea was low-less than 1%. (2) According to the Shannon diversity index, the well-preserved portion of the ancient city wall had the highest diversity of bacteria, fungi, and archaea, and bacterial diversity on the good city wall was greater than that on the corroded city wall. (3) Bray-Curtis distances revealed that the genomes of the two good city walls were similar and that the genomes of the corroded city wall portions were similar. Researchers also detected human intestine-related bacteria in four locations on the city walls, with the proportion of these bacteria in the microbial community being greater on good city walls than on bad city walls. (4) KEGG functional analysis revealed that the energy metabolism and inorganic ion transport activities of the bacterial community on the corroded city wall were greater than those of the good city wall. (5) In the carbon cycle, the absence of active glycolysis, the ED pathway, and the TCA cycle played significant roles in the collapse of the east city wall. (6) The nitrogen cycling processes involved ammonia oxidation and nitrite reduction to nitrate. (7) In the sulfur cycle, researchers discovered a crucial differential functional gene, SoxY, which facilitates the conversion of thiosulfate to sulfate. This study suggests that, in the future, biological approaches can be used to help cultural heritage site protectors achieve targeted and precise protection of cultural relics through the use of microbial growth inhibition technology. The results of this study serve as a guide for the protection of cultural heritage sites in other parts of China and provide a useful supplement to research on the protection of world cultural heritage or architectural heritage sites.

Dive Into the Past: Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Represented in Chinese Mobile Games

This study delves into the representation of intangible Chinese cultural heritage in Chinese mobile games. Nowadays, even with huge economic potential, Chinese mobile games are still faced with negative comments, especially from parents. To develop their reputation, Chinese mobile games have portrayed considerate Chinese intangible cultural heritage (ICH). The representation of cultural heritage in video games has been a subject of discussion for a long time, while console and computer games and tangible cultural heritage have been at the centre of academic studies. Hence, we strived to investigate how Chinese ICH is depicted in Chinese mobile games. A thematic analysis was conducted on data collected through analytical gameplay of 30 Chinese mobile games selected from Apple’s App Store and the Chinese TapTap platform. Our analysis indicates that Chinese ICH is represented in Chinese mobile games to fulfil the persona of game characters, to create a more engaging and immersive game world experience, to provide more intense combat moments, to offer visually enjoyable virtual goods, and to deliver culturally driven updates during traditional festivals. Among the various forms of Chinese ICH, Chinese traditional craftsmanship is found to be used most frequently because of the huge effort it requires to be mastered, which could be educational to players. Theatrical traditions were found to be depicted in most game elements because they combine visual, audio, and motional elements. Lastly, folk and classical literature is portrayed in Chinese mobile games to provide a narrative resource that culturally resonates with players.

Characterizing the cultural landscape of traditional Chinese settlements through genome maps

Plentiful traditional settlements are the key part of Chinese cultural heritage due to their prominent traditional cultural features and rich historical information. The rapidly growing social economy of China raises a pressing need for understanding their rich traditional knowledge and wisdom. In order to explore this issue, Cultural Landscape Genes of Traditional Settlements (CLGTS) has been proposed by Chinese scholars since 2003. Since that, it has been attracting wide attention and has made significant strides in many areas, such as urban planning and the development of tourism. However, CLGTS still faces significant difficulties in addressing the connections between the cultural elements and the entire spatial image of traditional settlements. To fill this gap, this work proposed Landscape Genome Maps of Traditional Settlements (LGMTS) based on CLGTS. First, this work clarified the definition of Landscape Genomes of Traditional Settlements (LGTS); then, this work deeply clarified the connotations of LGMTS, and addressed the relations among CLGTS, LGTS, and LGMTS. Based on these findings, this work further established the classifications of LGMTS and explored its functions. Finally, through a case study, the potential of LGMTS to catch the critical cultural features of traditional settlements was shown.

Driving Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism in China through Heritage Building Information Modeling

In recent years, applying building information modeling (BIM) digital technologies to cultural heritage management, monitoring, restoration, with the objective of advancing the sustainable development of both cultural heritage protection and tourism in China, has become a prominent research focus. However, there are a few studies that comprehensively investigate the relationship between BIM, Chinese cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism development. In order to explore the application of BIM in the protection and inheritance of Chinese cultural heritage, as well as its potential in promoting the sustainable development of cultural heritage tourism, this paper adopts the quantitative research method of bibliometrics to explore the research hotspots, development background, and evolution trends of BIM-driven sustainable development in Chinese cultural heritage tourism. By using data obtained from the China Knowledge Network database, multi-level bibliometrics analysis has been conducted through visualized knowledge graphs. The results suggest that the popular research keywords for driving sustainable cultural heritage tourism in China through BIM since year 2000 (23 years) include heritage tourism, heritage protection, building heritage, digital technology, and tourism development. Three research hotspots have been identified, which are cultural heritage protection, cultural heritage tourism development, and cultural heritage tourism management. In terms of tourism development and management, building virtual interactive scenes of cultural heritage facilitated by BIM to enhance tourism experience of tourists, using BIM to assist in efficient management, intelligent decision-making, and personalized services of cultural heritage tourism, assist in better promoting the sustainable development of cultural heritage tourism. In terms of coordinating and managing stakeholders in cultural heritage tourism, BIM technology provides technical support to the government, industry managers, and community residents in information communication, and industry management by constructing a digital model of cultural heritage to better balance the rights and interests of stakeholders.

The Effect of Group Counseling with Chinese Folk Dancing on the Psychological Quality of College Students

Background and Aims: Chinese folk dancing is an energetic and essential part of Chinese culture, helping to uphold customs, promote a sense of community, and honor the rich diversity of Chinese cultural heritage. The objectives of this study were 1) to compare the mood states of university students before and after participating in dance movement activities, and 2) to compare the mood states of a control group and an experimental group after participating in the dance movement activities. Methodology: The sample group was the university students of the Chongqing Vocational University of Mechanical and Electrical Technology. The experimental group, consisting of 30 students, participated in a dance program, while the control class, also comprising 30 students, did not engage in dance courses. The experimental group used dance movement activities, while the control group followed traditional teaching methods. Data was collected using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale which is commonly used in China. It was analyzed using SPSS descriptive analysis and t-test. Results: The results of this study are as follows: 1) After the end of the experiment, the positive mood score of the students in the dance movement activities was higher than before the experiment, the negative mood score was lower than before the experiment, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). 2) The positive mood score of the experimental group receiving dance movement activity was higher than that of the control group, and the negative mood score was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion: Overall, the results show that students' positive moods significantly improved and their negative moods significantly decreased when they participated in dance movement activities, both within the experimental group and when compared to the control group. This suggests that dancing movement activities have substantial emotional benefits.

Virtual shadow puppet generation based on AlphaPose

This study aims to develop a novel motion capture method utilizing the AlphaPose project to support the production and analysis of shadow puppetry. Through precise capture and analysis of human body postures, we seek to enhance the performance quality of shadow puppetry, introducing modern technology to this ancient Chinese intangible cultural heritage art form, thereby facilitating its inheritance and development. This paper provides an introduction to the background and significance of the research, explores existing issues and shortcomings, and provides a detailed description of our methodology and the improvements achieved.

Genetic visualization of cultural heritage: A case study of Zhuxian Town woodblock prints

Using genetic visualization technology to effectively convey cultural information plays an important role in preserving cultural heritage. The key to preserving and developing cultural ecology levels is employing visualization methods and a strategic approach. A valuable tool for conservation, restoration, and cultural gene inheritance, this process involves collecting and processing heritage data. Chinese cultural heritage will be safeguarded, communicated, and promoted using cultural genetic visualization techniques. This technique has the potential to preserve tangible heritage, as demonstrated by Zhuxian Town Woodblock New Year prints. By visualizing and preserving China’s cultural heritage, the results contribute to understanding and engagement with its diverse culture. Heritage can be protected and added value to future generations through cultural genetic visualization techniques.

Research on the Supply-side Reform Path in the Management of Chinese Cultural Heritage Sites

Research on the Supply-side Reform Path in the Management of Chinese Cultural Heritage Sites

Chinese Muslims and Their Non-Muslim Families on Muamalat Fiqh Co-Existence (Ta’ayush)

Chinese Muslim converts in Malaysia often face dual rejection, viewed as traitors by their Chinese families and as outsiders by the Muslim communities. This study examines how these individuals navigate family conflicts while balancing their religious beliefs with Chinese Cultural heritage. Through qualitative semi structured interviews with 15 Chinese Muslims, three key findings emerged. Firstly, the Chinese Muslims feel disconnected from their Chinese original community due to their new identity, Secondly, they strive to preserve their Chinese cultural heritage while embracing their Muslim identity. Thirdly, they constantly negotiate their ethnic and religious identities especially with their non-Muslim families. Despite these challenges, the Chinese Muslims play a vital role as cultural bridges fostering understanding between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. This implication is significant as their efforts align with the Islamic concept of Figh al ta’Ayush (peaceful co-existence), contributing to social harmony. This study concludes that Chinese Muslims while facing identity issues, significantly contribute to intercommunal understanding. Future studies could explore Chinese Muslim parents’ perception of Islam and their reasons for rejecting their children's conversion, proving further insights into these complex cultural dynamics.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Chinese Cultural Heritage Based on CiteSpace

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Chinese Cultural Heritage Based on CiteSpace

Crack Detection and Feature Extraction of Heritage Buildings via Point Clouds: A Case Study of Zhonghua Gate Castle in Nanjing

Zhonghua Gate Castle is on the tentative list for Chinese World Cultural Heritage. Due to long-term sunshine, rain erosion, and man-made damage, its surface appears to have different degrees of cracks and other diseases. This paper centers on Zhonghua Gate Castle; terrestrial laser scanning is used to obtain the exterior wall point cloud data. A crack detection method based on point cloud data curved surface reconstruction is proposed. It involves data preprocessing, crack detection, and the analysis of crack features. This method initially uses data preprocessing techniques to improve data quality. These techniques include removing ground points and super-voxel segmentation. Subsequently, local surface reconstruction was employed to address the issue of missing point cloud data within cracks and the Euclidean clustering algorithm was used for precise crack identification. The article provides a detailed analysis of the geometric characteristics of cracks. They involve the calculation of length, width, and area. The results of the experiment demonstrate that the method could successfully identify cracks and extract geometric features and has millimeter-level accuracy compared to actual crack sizes.

The heritagization of cultural politics: anthropological research on Chinese cultural heritage

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, in alignment with globalization and the megatrend within the international socio-cultural sphere, China has initiated a large-scale “intangible cultural heritage (ICH) protection movement” through its proactive leadership and management of cultural heritage administration. As a significant component of Chinese cultural politics, this movement has profoundly influenced the cultural lives of Chinese society and its citizens and is poised to continue doing so. Some Chinese anthropologists have also participated in and significantly contributed to this movement in various ways. This paper comprehensively and meticulously examines these fundamental ways. Building upon this analysis, this paper further provides an overview and assessment of the research outcomes of anthropological research on Chinese cultural heritage, both domestically and internationally. The author posits that the paramount contribution of anthropologists, both domestically and internationally, to Chinese cultural heritages and the related protection endeavors lies in their academic research outcomes being predominantly based on their respective fieldwork practices. These outcomes, shaped and realized through on-the-ground fieldwork, hold exceptional value for cultural heritage administration and national cultural policies, as they effectively provide cultural criticism and dissenting perspectives.

Research on the spatiotemporal distribution and factors influencing intangible cultural heritage in Fujian Province from a multiscale perspective

The spatiotemporal distribution of intangible cultural heritage in Fujian Province, China, and the factors that influence it were explored using multiple spatial scales. The samples include five batches of Chinese national-level and six batches of Chinese provincial-level intangible cultural heritage items, totaling 554. The samples involve city-scale, county-scale, and traditional dwellings, and the analysis uses various methods, such as gravity migration theory and the GeoDetector model. The results show that, in terms of historical timescales, the moving trajectory of the center of gravity of the intangible cultural heritage distribution in Fujian Province involves reciprocation from north to south, and the center moves south in time from the pre-Qin period to the modern period. Spatially, intangible cultural heritage in Fujian Province forms an overall aggregate pattern, among which traditional skills fall into an aggregate pattern; five categories, including traditional drama, fall into an aggregate-random pattern; and four categories, including traditional medicine, fall into a random pattern. The traditional art category and other intensive distribution areas are located in coastal areas, and the traditional dance category is scattered in northwestern Fujian Province. Experiments on the factors influencing intangible cultural heritage distribution were conducted at the city and county levels. At the city level, human geography factors, such as the resident population, urbanization rate, and gross domestic product, have a greater influence on distribution. At the county level, the influence of physical geographical factors clearly increases. The dominant factors for coastal cities are the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), average precipitation, and coastline, and that for inland cities is elevation. From the perspective of categories, the dominant factors of traditional music and Quyi are human geography factors, and those of other types of intangible cultural heritage are the synergistic effects of physical geography and human geography. The conclusions of this study are helpful for systematically protecting and developing the intangible cultural heritage industry and improving research theories and methodological systems of the spatiotemporal distribution and mechanism influencing intangible cultural heritage.

Integrating Traditional Chinese Culture into Vocational English Education: Strategies and Approaches

With economic globalization, English has become a crucial discipline in China s educational system, serving as a vital tool for cross-cultural communication. This paper explores the urgent need to integrate the rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture into vocational English teaching to enhance students cultural understanding and national confidence. It suggests that vocational colleges should take the lead in this initiative, finding effective methods to achieve such integration, thereby preparing students to become effective communicators and ambassadors of Chinese culture on the global stage.

Business etiquette: The heritage of Chinese culture in trade negotiations

Business etiquette: The heritage of Chinese culture in trade negotiations

A Set of Acupuncture Needles in the Late Qing Dynasty Collected by George Soulié de Morant

Abstract In the early 20th century, French vice-consul George Soulié de Morant encountered acupuncture during his visit to China, and then brought it back to France. After more than 100 years, his collection was transported from Paris, France to Kunming, China, and later recognized as a Chinese national third-class precious cultural heritage. Currently housed in the Museum of Western Studies on Chinese Medicine at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, this set of instruments includes one needle holder converted from a fan-shaped holder, ten acupuncture needles, and eleven paper tags handwritten in English with names of diseases and body parts. This article attempts to present the basic information and historical appearance of this set of late Qing dynasty acupuncture instruments by reviewing the collection and related research on acupuncture instruments, consulting acupuncture professionals, measuring the detailed information of the set of instruments, and employing a method of translating and summarizing the content of the attached tags.

What drives user churn in serious games? An empirical examination of the TAM, SOR theory, and game quality in Chinese cultural heritage games

User churn in serious games related to Chinese cultural heritage is severe due to various game quality issues, leading to a lack of long-term user feedback necessary for optimizing design, which further hampers the development of such games. Through user interviews and literature review, this study identified two dimensions of quality of cultural heritage serious games: factors related to online gaming and those intrinsic to serious games. Within the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theoretical framework of, this study integrates these quality factors within the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to construct a user churn model. This model explores the relationship between quality factors and user churn. Utilizing 534 valid responses gathered from online platforms, this study employs statistical analyses and structural equation modeling to uncover that learning objectives, entertainment experience, system quality, and game design profoundly influence both perceived usefulness and ease of use, which in turn indirectly impacts user churn. Service quality’s influence on user churn is mediated by perceived usefulness, while brand image affects churn through perceived ease of use. Notably, learning objectives and entertainment experience emerge as critical determinants. The insights gained offer valuable guidance for game designers in addressing user needs, enhancing game quality, and reducing churn. Building on previous research, this study uses a mixed-methods approach and identifies factors affecting user churn in the context of cultural heritage serious games and validated the model’s rationality and effectiveness, enriching the foundational theoretical research on serious games.

Research on the Historical Remain of the Bombard of Chongqing Ontological Model from the Perspective of Digital Humanities

Based on the perspective of digital humanities, taking the example of the historical remain of the bombard of Chongqing, this research explores the possibilities of digital communication of the historical remain of the bombard of Chongqing through specific methodssuch as multi-source clustering, resource indexing, knowledge reorganization, and interactive operations. The semantic ontology model can achieve a multidimensional stereoscopic description of the historical remain of the bombard of Chongqing with heterogeneous data from multiple sources. This facilitates the in-depth integration of related resources of relic objects, designing an ontology model that aligns with the unique characteristics of Chongqing's red culture. The study also discusses the technical and expansion paths of the ontology model for war relics, aiming to provide insights and references for the integration of digital resources and the digital preservation and dissemination of the historical remain of the bombard. To achieve the preservation of Chinese historical and cultural heritage.

A Structural Analysis on the Influence Factors of Instructional Professionalism of Dance Educators of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage

A Structural Analysis on the Influence Factors of Instructional Professionalism of Dance Educators of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage

From Tradition to Innovation Brand Communication: A Model of Success in Purposeful Branding-Heaven Gaia

This paper delves into the rise of purposeful branding in the context of China's evolving economy and global market demand for Chinese cultural elements in clothing design. Uses Heaven Gaia as a successful case study, highlighting its commitment to Chinese design and cultural heritage. The concept of brand purpose is explored, distinguishing it from marketing goals, and emphasizing its role in building brand awareness, storytelling, and long-term brand image. The paper discusses the importance of marketing strategies in creating short-term buzz and brand recognition, while brand purpose focuses on sustainable growth and consumer trust. Furthermore, also examines the challenges and opportunities for purposeful brands in today's culture, emphasizing the need for brands to adapt to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences. The collaboration between Heaven Gaia and Florasis is cited as an example of successful brand crossovers, showcasing the potential for innovative marketing approaches.