Symbolic Importance Research Articles

Tracing the Cultural Genes of the Great Striving Spirit of the Chinese Nation

The great striving spirit is one of the most important spiritual symbols of the Chinese nation, which has gradually formed through philosophical thinking and historical practice in the long river of history. The great striving spirit originated from Zhouyi, which states that “As Heaven is in constant motion and vibrant, virtuous men should strive continuously for self-improvement.” This indicates the respect and adherence of the ancestors to the laws of cosmic motion. Next, the “Three immortality” of “Li De”, “Li Gong”, and “Li Yan” demonstrate the ideal of striving for a civilized and developed society, with moral cultivation as the fundamental premise. Next, Wang Yangming, a representative figure of the Confucian philosophy of mind, proposed classic propositions such as “the unity of knowledge and action” and “the pursuit of conscience”, he implemented moral cognition and moral practice into daily cultivation and included human transcendence and striving spirit in every detail of life. These precious spiritual treasures have influenced countless people and gathered into a great tide of striving spirit, creating outstanding spiritual and material civilization for the Chinese nation and making tremendous contributions.

Meme-Ing Waves: unpacking political narratives in the Romanian context

ABSTRACT Political memes are no longer (only) a humorous feature of internet culture, but also act as a vehicle for information diffusion and reimaging of politics. Using a mixed-methodology approach, combining content analysis, descriptive statistics, and social network analysis, this study unravels the complex dynamics of political memes within the Romanian context, uncovering how memes reflect and shape political narratives. By focusing on the political discourse surrounding the 2020 Romanian parliamentary elections, this research highlights the underlying power dynamics and themes prevalent within the Romanian political landscape. The study finds that memes frequently amplify the visibility of incumbent political actors from governing parties, unveiling their symbolic importance. Memes also tend to reflect salient themes and issues, such as corruption and incompetence, serving as a means of criticizing the personal attributes of politicians and overshadowing policy matters. Finally, the analysis reveals the intricate web of political affiliations formed through cross-cutting communities within the emerging subthemes of the meme corpus. Overall, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of memes as a driving force for political commentary, framing, and engagement.

Navigating urban risks for sustainability: A comprehensive evaluation of urban vulnerability based on a pressure–sensitivity–resilience framework

Cities are important symbols of civilization in human society. The vulnerability to cities caused by human activities and natural disasters has become increasingly evident. How to reduce the vulnerability of cities is an important topic in the research of urban public safety and sustainable development. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of urban vulnerability is conducted on the basis of the pressure–sensitivity–resilience framework from a complex systems perspective, integrating three subsystems—the resource–environment, economic, and social subsystems. On the basis of data from 18 cities in Sichuan Province, China, from 2006 to 2021, this study analyzes vulnerability in terms of its scores, spatial and temporal evolution, and obstacles. The results reveal that the overall vulnerability of the Sichuan Basin has shown a fluctuating downward trend over the past sixteen years, and the spatial distribution has evolved into a large “low-vulnerability” agglomeration. The obstacles affecting urban vulnerability are also changing dynamically and include factors such as the harmless treatment rate of household waste and industrial smoke dust emissions. Drawing from these insights, this study enables the identification and diagnosis of urban vulnerability and, further, provides city managers with tailored recommendations for crafting policies that aim to mitigate risks and promote sustainable development.

A Social Practice Perspective of Ireland's Lobster Cultural Food Heritage

The research examines integrating the Slow Food Movement (SFM) with Ireland's lobster industry, emphasising preserving local culinary heritage as crucial for Sustainable Food Systems. This heritage includes both tangible elements, like agricultural practices and intangible ones, such as traditional food preparation. Slow food aims to protect these traditions from the homogenisation of food production. Using Social Practice Theory, the research analyses lobster consumption in Ireland, underscoring its symbolic importance in Irish culture to develop a novel framework adapted from the Social Practice Framework. The study combines qualitative interviews and secondary data analysis to explore lobster's role in Irish culinary heritage and its potential for promoting sustainable seafood consumption. Results from the study highlight the critical role of Irish lobster fishing communities in maintaining cultural food heritage, with traditional practices contributing to ecological and economic sustainability. The SFM influences lobster consumption, supporting sustainable and culturally important food practices. This research underscores the intricate link between tradition and sustainability, suggesting a model to balance cultural integrity with sustainable practices, contributing to a more culturally informed and environmentally conscious food consumption approach.

Human-bird interactions in the Levant during the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene: Multi-scalar analysis of avifaunal remains

This paper describes analyses of avifauna from Levantine Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene sites at contrasting scales. We present avian osteological data at Shubayqa, in northeast Jordan, illustrating human-bird-environment interactions over 4000 years offering interpretation of environmental change on avifaunal communities and reorientation in the nature of multi-species relationships at a wetland environment. Comparisons to published avifaunal assemblages investigates bird-human relationships across a broader temporal and geographical span. During the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, some of our species gradually transitioned to agriculture. People hunted birds for subsistence but extensive evidence for the symbolic importance of birds suggests complex relationships between species. Avifaunal evidence, therefore, presents insights into two commonly suggested primary causes for the shift from hunter-foragers to agriculturalists – resource pressure and symbolic expression. In this paper, we investigate and try to clarify the relationship between humans and birds at this transitional period in human history, furthering discussions of the shift towards agriculture. We argue humans gradually modified the landscape but this was not a reactionary response to resource stress. Nevertheless, this resulted in the productivity of the landscape increasing and allowed further intensification. Feathers and talons of birds were used for millennia preceding the shift to agriculture and the increase in bird hunting towards the end of the Pleistocene cannot be explained by the increased role of birds in the symbolic realm. The evidence from the avifauna adds weight to the idea of ecological niche construction activities, as people invested in specific locations, increasing productivity of habitats, thus encouraging further investment within some environments.

The importance of drug symbols and halal logos in the pharmaceutical industry: Effect, understanding, and implementation

With its predominantly Muslim population, Indonesia has significant potential in pharmaceuticals and herbal products, making it a focal point for government initiatives to drive growth in the sector. Despite these efforts, compliance with halal standards and obtaining halal certificates still face many challenges. This research examines the efforts to fulfill halal certification obligations by implementing halal standards in pharmaceutical and herbal products. This research uses a descriptive qualitative study; the data was collected through observational reviews and interviews and supplemented with a comprehensive literature study, which includes various sources such as journals, books, online media, and other additional references. This study reveals that setting standards or halal certification involves three parties, namely the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), the Halal Examining Agency (LPH), and the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI). BPJPH implements the halal product guarantee. Then BPJPH will submit it to Lembaga Pengkajian Pangan, Obat-obatan dan Kosmetika (LPPOM) as LPH to check the adequacy of documents, compile audits, conduct audits, hold auditor meetings, issue audit memoranda, and submit audit result records to the MUI Halal Fatwa Session. Together with the Fatwa Committee, MUI determines the level of halalness of the product based on the audit results and issues a MUI Halal Decree. Keywords: Herbs, Halal Industry, Halal Certificate, Medicines

Representasi Karakter Alpha Female Dalam Drama Korea Queenmaker

Korean dramas or (Drakor) have become a global phenomenon, gaining widespread popularity around the world. They are recognized not only as entertainment but also as complex reflections of social dynamics. The presence of Alpha Female characters in Drakor signifies support for gender equality and indicates societal shifts in views on women's roles in various aspects of life. This study aims to understand the representation of Alpha Female characters in the Korean drama Queenmaker hoping to gain new insights into societal perceptions of women beyond the domestic sphere. Using a qualitative approach and Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic analysis, the research found that Alpha Female characters exhibit leadership, confidence, and strength in facing challenges. From Peirce's perspective, these characters become important symbols that reinforce women's roles in fighting injustice and advocating for moral values. The findings underscore that Drakor is not just entertainment, but also a mirror of social realities that significantly influence perceptions of gender equality, expanding our understanding of women's roles in popular culture and the importance of gender equality in society.

Subject Review On The Use Of The Symbolisms And Iamges In The Literary Works Of William Blake : Romantic Considerations

The main aim of this subject review is to present the symbolism and images in William Black's poetry.The subject review refers to inform the readers about the importance of symbols and images. Both images and symbols are expressions in presenting the idea of hidden meanings .These expressions are reflected the romantic issues of human life. The theoratical framework of this subject review is used symbolism theory. The type of analysis is documentary analysis to find out the quotations which contain the symbols and images in the poetry of Black. This paper is also referred to the romantic poetry, Black, and the features of his poetry. The recommendation of this review subject is to be future study to another scholars in terms such as images and symbols in other genera such as short story, drama and novel.

Pork barrel spending: The missing link between electoral clientelism and political budget cycles

Pork barrel spending used in the political budget cycles literature via a preference approach is identified as the link tying clientelism to political budget cycles. This paper looks at the supply and demand sides of electoral clientelism using the case study of shipyards in Croatia. The strategic, symbolic and everyday importance of the shipbuilding industry in Croatia is evident to the general public, but even more so to politicians. This paper examines the supply side – whether incumbents increase central budget funds (state guarantees) in election years (pork barrel spending) toward shipyards in Pula, Rijeka, Kraljevica, Trogir and Split – and the demand side – whether voters reward incumbents who engage in these pork barrelling practices. The theoretical foundations of the paper are based on the literature on clientelism, political budget cycles and the political economy of fiscal policy. Panel data analysis conducted on a sample of 5 shipyards over the 2001-2022 period confirms the existence of pork barrelling but does not confirm voters’ reactions to them. The empirical exercise identified the share of shipyard workers in the manufacturing industry at the county level as the main mechanism of electoral clientelism in Croatia.

ANALISIS MOTIVASI KEAGAMAAN PELAKU BOM BUNUH DIRI (SUICIDE TERRORISM) DI INDONESIA

Suicide bombing is one of the deadliest and most frightening forms of terrorism because the impact caused causes huge losses in the number of casualties and also many aspects of people's lives. The problem is that suicide bombers often act in the name of religion and use their religious views as motivation for their actions. The suicide bombers give meaning to the religious symbols they encounter and then interpret the form of the symbol, namely religious commands such as jihad and also represent symbols that are interpreted as infidels in the wrong way, so this article tries to analyze how important symbols are in the formation of meaning and human behavior. This article uses the symbolic interactionism theory approach in its analysis, by looking for sources from various literatures, namely journals, books, and existing research. and uses a qualitative approach because the data produced is in the form of words or descriptions. Suicide bombers are included in demographic studies because they are part of the human population that can be analyzed statistically.

Chinese White Dolphins in the Anthropocene: Human-animal Relations Among the Islands of the Pearl River Delta

The Chinese white dolphin (Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis) has become a symbol of China’s Pearl River Delta in the Anthropocene. However, little scholarly attention has been paid to its role in the region’s culture. This paper takes a human-animal relations approach to ask how and why this threatened species of dolphin rose to symbolic importance in a particular delta island geography within its vast range. The paper undertakes an exploratory literature review of historical and more recent texts concerning dolphins in China and more specifically Chinese white dolphins in the Pearl River Delta. These texts range from discussions of dolphin physiology, to religious associations with dolphins, to industrial-economic explorations, to illustrated children’s books, to postage stamps and amusement park exhibits. They combine to show that Anthropocene processes have produced the Chinese white dolphin as symbolic of Hong Kong’s reunification with China and ultimately for the cohesiveness of the Pearl River Delta crossborder region as a whole, even as these spatioeconomic developments have placed the species at risk.

Musical Contacts Between the Polish and Jewish Communities and the Image of Jewish Culture in Nineteenth-Century Polish Popular Music

Enduring contacts between Polish and Jewish communities on Polish soil began to take shape around the turn of the thirteenth century, initiating a period of many centuries of mutual cultural and musical influence. Extant sources, although few and far between (normative documents, chronicles, journalistic accounts, commentaries from observers and scholars, iconography, sheet music, recorded music and films), enable us to follow the development of the mutual musical relations between the two national groups over time. Yet this article concentrates primarily on the state of those relations during the nineteenth century, limited to popular culture. Taking the works of Oskar Kolberg as an example, we will discuss the repertoire of the Jewish community at that time, as perceived and received by the Polish community. This will be followed by a presentation of Jewish music groups that played for Poles as well, and also of particularly popular Jewish musicians who were singled out by journalists at that time. The article also presents the way in which Jews and their musical culture were depicted by Polish journalists and portrayed in the musical expression of representatives of rural and urban communities.The article shows that the image of Jews and their musical culture among different strata of Polish society during the nineteenth century varied a great deal. The virtuosity of Jewish musicians aroused interest and admiration among the Polish intelligentsia and acquired a mythologised personification in the literary figure of Jankiel. Lower social strata, when taking up Jewish strands in their musical expression, were often reacting to conflicts of interest experienced in their contacts with Jews representing a pre-capitalist economy. Jews in ritual and everyday situations constituted important ritual symbols bringing in wealth, and their very presence in theatrical forms was perceived partly as evidence of the veracity of biblical events. References to Jewish culture in the musical expression of the Polish community were confined to the most common stereotypes, which attests to the superficiality of the contacts between the two communities. Against that background, the actual idiom of Jewish music was far better understood, imitated and copied.

Symbology and Codes in Dan Brown’s Origin

This paper explores the intricate web of symbology and codes found within Dan Brown's gripping novel, Origin. As a renowned master of blending history, art, science and religion, Brown weaves a tale that captivates readers with a labyrinth of symbols and enigmatic ciphers. Through an analysis of key elements in the narrative, this study aims to shed light on the significance of symbolism and cryptographic puzzles as essential devices in the plot's development. Drawing upon Brown's signature writing style, the paper examines the role of religious symbology, ancient texts and iconic art and architecture, intertwining them with scientific theories to craft a compelling narrative. The central focus lies in the protagonist, Robert Langdon, a symbologist, whose expertise in languages and linguistics plays a pivotal role in deciphering messages and solving the mystery at hand. Jean Moréas' Symbolist Manifesto (1886) is a foundational text in the development of literary symbolism. In this manifesto, Moréas emphasized the importance of symbolism in art and literature, advocating for a departure from naturalism and realism. He proposed that artists should focus on conveying emotions and ideas through symbols, rather than direct representation. Applying Moréas' theory of symbolism, the researcher analyzes how Dan Brown employs symbols and codes as key elements in Origin. By analyzing the relationship between language and technological innovation, the study aims to unveil how these elements converge to heighten the intrigue and suspense in the novel. It delves into the significance of linguistic techniques and cryptic passages, as tools for building suspense and enriching the reading experience. Langdon reveals meanings and ideas inherent in symbols and codes and demystifies the concepts- "Where do we come from?" and "Where are we going?"

Overseas Strategic Communication Strategies of New Energy Enterprises: Media Image Analysis of BYD and CATL in Hungary

The 2024 Government Work Report released by the State Council pointed out that the export of “new trio” - electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products has witnessed a year-on-year increase of nearly 30%, showcasing that the momentum of Chinese new energy enterprises going global is thriving. Hungary, ranking among the top three lithium-ion battery producing countries globally, with its automotive industry accounting for 10% of its GDP and 20% of its total exports, serves as a crucial market. Since 2022, Chinese leading battery enterprises represented by CATL and electric passenger vehicle enterprises represented by BYD have successively established factories in Hungary, drawing extensive attention from local media and the public. These flagship enterprises of the “new trio” have become important symbols of China’s high-quality development, and their media image in host countries can to some extent represent the overseas image of Chinese new energy enterprises, holding significant implications for the construction of China’s national image. Leveraging the author’s language expertise, this paper selects and analyzes 220 relevant reports from three mainstream media outlets in Hungary through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, supplemented by longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis. Additionally, considering the enterprises’ overseas social media operations, the paper examines the external communication images of the two Chinese new energy enterprises and the challenges they face, concluding with tailored recommendations.

Verborgene Transformation des autoritären Regionalismus: Biografien der Beamt*innen als Abbildung der Funktionen der Organisationen

AbstractAuthoritarian regionalism constitutes a challenging topic for empirical research due to a substantial gap between official mandates and the actual practices of regional organizations (ROs). While formally most authoritarian ROs “download” the global script of regionalism and imitate the European Union, in practice, they are used by their member states for different purposes than economic integration—in particular, to legitimize the nondemocratic regimes. At the same time, there are also examples of authoritarian ROs that go beyond simple autocracy-sustaining rhetoric and have actual policy implications. This paper argues that the differences between authoritarian ROs can be better observed if one looks not at the official mandates but at the background of their key officials. Using the case of post-Soviet Eurasia with its proliferation of authoritarian ROs, I show that a look at the biographies of officials clearly reveals the existence of two generations of ROs—one with primarily symbolic importance and one with actual economic integration ambitions.

Reasons to understand the symbolic importance of Ricardo Darín in the Argentine audiovisual universe

Argentine actor Ricardo Darín is the one who attracts the largest audiences in each of the films he stars in. He occupies a very important symbolic place within the national star system, and even in the country’s public arena. In this article, I go back to his television career to explain how, in his long career, there were two key products that helped to consolidate his persona, and at the same time allowed him to turn it around: the sitcom Mi cuñado (Carlos Berterreix, 1993-1996) and the feature film Nueve reinas (Fabián Bielinsky, 1999). I propose that his star text was shaped by the tension between the stereotype of the chanta (the rogue) –of long tradition and popularity in Argentine arts– and the measured middle-class young man. The qualitative leap between the two occurred between the peak of his television popularity and his consolidation as a film star of international scope.

Flag within a Flag: Understanding the Ongoing Cultural Significance of the Union Jack in the Australian Flag*

ABSTRACT In Australia, social scientists have long understood the importance of national symbols and the role they play in both the construction and maintenance of the nation, but in-depth analysis of the national flag has been overlooked. In particular, the cultural significance of the British flag that sits within the Australian national flag warrants focused consideration, as it symbolises the moment Australia became a British possession in multifarious ways. In this article, a critical analysis of the Australian flag demonstrates how the primary symbol of the nation can heighten White privilege through its official point of honour. Vexillology and Indigenist Standpoint Pedagogy provide a framework from which to deconstruct the Australian flag. This article conducts a critical examination of the social, institutional and historical frameworks that support the flag to argue that it is an ongoing signifier of White cultural power.

Face Culture and Its Extension under the Impact of the Internet

Face culture, as one of the important special symbols in the society, plays an indispensable role in building interpersonal connections. In order to view the future cross-cultural communication from a clearer perspective, this paper studies and compares the cases of "Internet face culture represented by social media" and "traditional face culture represented by dining table culture", and concludes that both of them have been further strengthened on the basis of the original culture, rather than changed due to the impact of the Internet. other words, face culture will not disappear with the change of media or lifestyle, on the contrary, it will continue to evolve a new model and exist in interpersonal relationships for a long time. However, no matter what form of face culture, whether it has a positive impact on interpersonal communication or not, it shows strong adaptability, that is, each region will evolve its own face culture suitable for the region according to its cultural differences, and then show the diversity of face culture with the help of media.

Hematological cytomorphology: Where we are.

The manuscript discusses the historical evolution of observing blood cell morphology under an optical microscope, from the earliest microscopes in the 17th century to the modern digital era, highlighting key advancements and contributions in the field. Blood has historically held symbolic importance in various cultures, with early medical observations dating back to Hippocrates and Galeno. The discovery of cells and subsequent advancements in microscopy by scientists like Hooke and van Leeuwenhoek paved the way for understanding blood cell morphology. Influential figures such as Hewson, Donné, and Ehrlich followed. Diagnostic cytology evolved from manual cell counting to the development of automated hematological systems. Automated complete blood counting came to support microscopic examination in diagnosing hematological disorders. Morphology is crucial in predicting disease outcomes and guiding treatment decisions, particularly hematological neoplasms. The introduction of flow cytometry and its integration with traditional morphological analysis and the new cytogenetic and molecular techniques revolutionized the classification and prognostication of hematologic disorders. Digital microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool in recent years, offering rapid acquisition and sharing of blood cell images. Integrating Artificial Intelligence with digital microscopy has further enhanced morphological analysis, improving diagnostic efficiency. We also discuss the prospects of AI in pre-classifying blood cells in bone marrow aspirate samples, potentially revolutionizing diagnostic pathways for hematologic diseases. Overall, the manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development, clinical significance and technological advancements in observing blood cell morphology, underscoring its continued relevance in modern hematology practice.

Research on the Linguistic Landscape of Memorial of Northeast China Revolutionary Martyrs

The use of language in red education bases is an important part of linguistic landscape research. The red education bases in Harbin not only represent the local revolutionary history and spirit, but also are important symbols of the Chinese people's struggle for national independence and people's liberation. Taking Memorial of Northeast China Revolutionary Martyrs as an example, the paper uses qualitative and quantitative analyses to examine the use of the linguistic landscape of the red educational bases in Harbin City from the perspectives of code types and combinations, dominant codes, and functional classifications, and to point out the various problems and their coping strategies, with a view to better understanding and grasping the current situation of the history and inheritance of the red culture in Harbin, providing theoretical support for the subsequent protection and inheritance, promoting the overall red culture in China, and providing a better understanding of the history and inheritance of the red culture in Harbin. In order to better understand and grasp the history and inheritance status of Harbin red culture, provide theoretical support for the subsequent protection and inheritance work, and promote the overall inheritance and development of Chinese red culture.