Iconic Research Articles

The Application of Traditional Chinese Auspicious Animal Patterns in Commercial Poster Illustration

Traditional Chinese auspicious animal patterns are significant symbols of Chinese culture, carrying profound historical and cultural connotations. In the context of globalization and digitalization, how to innovatively apply traditional patterns to modern commercial poster illustrations has become an important topic in the cultural and creative industries. This study focuses on traditional Chinese auspicious animal patterns, exploring their application strategies and practical approaches in commercial poster illustrations. Through literature review, case analysis, and comparative analysis, this paper examines the cultural and artistic characteristics of traditional patterns, combined with the visual language and communication functions of commercial poster illustrations. It proposes application strategies such as aligning pattern selection with themes, integrating traditional designs with modern aesthetics, unifying color schemes with brand identity, and enhancing composition for visual impact. By analyzing typical domestic and international cases, the study summarizes successful experiences and shortcomings, providing theoretical support and practical guidance for the modern application of traditional patterns. The research demonstrates that incorporating traditional Chinese auspicious animal patterns into commercial poster illustrations not only inherits and promotes traditional culture but also enhances the cultural value and market competitiveness of designs, injecting new vitality into the sustainable development of the cultural and creative industries.

Walasuji Sulapa Eppa’na: Integrating Philosophical Values into Sustainable Development in the Land of To Kaili

Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na is a cultural symbol of the Bugis-Makassar ethnic group in South Sulawesi, rich in philosophical values that embody spirituality, identity, mutual cooperation, and human responsibility in preserving nature. Its geometric pattern, composed of stacked quadrilaterals resembling rhombuses, serves not only as an aesthetic ornament but also symbolises the human journey towards perfection and the relationship with God. This concept represents the four main elements of life: God, humanity, the sky, the earth, and everything within it. However, in the Palu Valley, with the history of Bugis-Makassar ethnic migration, these philosophical values have begun to degrade due to globalisation, acculturation of forms, materials, functions, preferences, and the younger generation’s diminishing understanding of their ancestral traditions. As a result, Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na has become increasingly rare in the wedding ceremonies of the Bugis-Makassar-Kaili ethnic community, known as “To Kaili.” This research employs a qualitative method by exploring a single phenomenon, which is then analysed descriptively to understand the degradation of the cultural symbol Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na. The research objects are users of Walasuji structures, with Sulapa Eppa'na samples selected using purposive and incidental sampling techniques. The study aims to analyse the impact of changes on the preservation of Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na and explore the potential revitalisation of its values in urban development. The findings reveal that despite the degradation, the Bugis-Makassar-Kaili ethnic community continues to strive to preserve their cultural identity, including the responsibility of safeguarding nature. This study recommends integrating the values of Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na into urban development to achieve sustainable development.

Water as a Sustainable Infrastructure and Cultural Symbol of City: Bächle in Freiburg im Breisgau

Water as a Sustainable Infrastructure and Cultural Symbol of City: Bächle in Freiburg im Breisgau

Analysis of Public Art Design in a SquareTaking Square of Chongqing Flower Garden as an Example

Square of Chongqing Flower Garden, located in the northern part of Chongqing, serves as a significant urban space, shaping local identity and guiding visitors' routes within the garden. This paper analyzes the graphic expression of cultural symbolism, with a particular focus on tea culturea key element of Chongqing's heritage, represented here through camellia sculptures. The purpose of the design is to make Chongqing Flower Garden a place that showcases the beautiful scenery of the mountains throughout the four seasons and is popular among citizens, tourists, and flower enthusiasts. Using theoretical analysis and case analysis, this study concludes that graphic expression is an important way to establish design language, and iconic design language brings a highly recognizable place identity to the square in front of the flower garden.

Mathematical Symbolization in Relation to Arts and Culture

This paper stems from an analysis of a larger study that explored proficiency in mathematical symbolization and presents students’ representational fluency in using mathematical symbols concerning arts and culture. The research had the potential of revealing the conception of symbols by students, the thick line interconnection between mathematics and arts and underscoring mathematics symbols in the perspective of arts. The study objectives comprised finding out whether culture has mathematical concepts and how students conceive mathematical symbols concerning culture and traditions. The analysis made use of constructivist learning and ecological system theory as conceptual frameworks in lensing the study. The qualitative case study research design examined multiple representations of symbols among students in secondary schools and reported in light of symbols’ interconnections to the perspective of the arts. The findings of the study show that students are aware of mathematics concepts and their origin in the communities’ culture and prior knowledge of symbols contributes to challenges and tenacity in multiple representations of symbols in aspects of supportive and problematic conception. Discussion of these findings concerning performance in mathematics in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) may be owed to long-term negative effects on students’ understanding of mathematical symbolizations which in turn could impact achievement in mathematics. The study may be useful in recommending that emphasis could be put on better ways of integrating diverse cultures in the mathematics curriculum through curriculum documentation such as textbooks to enhance mathematical symbols’ conceptual understanding among students and reduce symbol cognitive load through proper pedagogical design

Application of traditional Chinese auspicious patterns in computer graphic design teaching

Background: Computer graphicdesigners utilize technology to adapt and blend text, images, color, font, and music to produce emotions and suggest messages to viewers. It makes concepts easier to visualize, supports creative design processes, improves user interfaces, and helps to investigate simulations.Objective: This study aims to develop an innovative computer graphic design teaching model using traditional Chinese auspicious patterns. Traditional Chinese auspicious patterns are imbued with cultural consequence and symbolism that offer students deeper consideration of visual aesthetics and cultural heritage in computer graphic design. Methods: In this study, a novel horse herd optimized poly-kernel support vector machine (HHO-PSVM) is proposed to forecast student performance in computer graphic design teaching. Student data is collected and analyzed by monitoring and assessing their commitment with computer graphic design teaching activities. The data was preprocessed by normalization. Then features are extracted from independent component analysis (ICA) from preprocessed data. Results: The findings of this study demonstrate that Chinese auspicious patterns in computer graphic design teaching improve students' understanding of cultural aesthetics and enhance creativity and engagement. A comparison of metrics' numerical results pre and post pattern was implemented. The improvement in recall from 68% to 90%, accuracy from 65% to 89%, precision from 63% to 87%, and F1-score from 64% to 88% was positive. Conclusion: This study contributes to the broader interaction of traditional art forms with digital activities by contributing education in digital design

Marketed Popular Romantic Fiction: A Brief Exploration of Women’s Values--Taking “Xing Han Can Lan, Xing Shen Zhi Zai” as an Example

Popular literature is defined as literature that is read by a large number of people in a certain period of time to meet specific requirements of the people, mostly for the goal of mind and soul entertainment, with the coexistence of artistic and economic qualities. A trendy topic in popular fiction is romance novels. There are particular websites for romance novels in China, such as the Jinjiang Literature Website. Many novels published in paper form are first serialized on this website. If the response is good, publishers will contact the authors to publish them. Popular romance novels also conform to the characteristics of many popular cultures; for example, popular literature usually has some fixed sets of pictures or often cultural symbols. Therefore, it is easy for readers to read and feel happy. In this essay, I would like to discuss the popular romance novels in the market. This article will use literature analysis and case study methods to study it. In the end, the result is that although popular romance novels have been marketed, they can also be used to awaken women’s consciousness in the most potent way of communication, thereby enlightening them.

The Evolution of K-POP Girl Group from the Perspective of Feminist Development

For more than 20 years, Korea’s pop music industry has developed rapidly, forming a music industry that can represent Korean culture: K-POP. In recent years, K-POP cultural works that contain feminist concepts have attracted more and more attention and discussion. This phenomenon is not only a trend but also a cultural symbol of the times. From the perspective of feminism, this paper analyzes the evolution of the style of K-POP girl groups and discusses the current situation of K-POP girl group feminism, as well as the existing conflicts and contradictions. According to the analysis in this article, K-POP provides a platform for feminist expression, but it also faces challenges. The style of the K-POP women’s group has changed many times, and the concept has also changed towards freedom and liberation. This reflects the influence of feminism on the development of K-pop girl groups. But at the same time, there are problems with this change based on the influence of commercialization and other factors. The first problem is the contradiction between their works and feminism, which makes their works appear empty. The second is the contradiction between the image of the idol and the connotation of the work. Therefore, the promotion role of K-POP girl groups in feminist awakening needs to be further developed.

Islamic Philanthropy in the Digital Era: Intercultural Communication Strategies for Effective ZISWAF Campaigns

The main issue in the Zakat, Infaq, Shadaqah, and Wakaf (ZISWAF) campaign in the digital era is how to effectively manage communication in a multicultural context. The objective of this research is to identify communication strategies that can inclusively reach multicultural communities. The core statement of this research is that effective intercultural communication is crucial for increasing participation in the ZISWAF campaign. The theory used is John Fiske's semiotic theory, which explains how messages are encoded and decoded by different audiences. The analysis shows that the use of cultural symbols and technology-based approaches can enhance the effectiveness of the ZISWAF campaign. The conclusion of this research is that culturally sensitive communication strategies, supported by digital technology, can increase community engagement in ZISWAF management and strengthen the impact of Islamic philanthropy.

Efficiency Assessment Method for Evoking Cultural Empathy in Symbolic Cultural and Creative Products Based on Fuzzy-FMEA

To address the issue of user empathy throughout the emotional experience process, this study presents a method to evaluate the efficacy of cultural empathy evoked based on fuzzy-FMEA. The method focuses on symbolic culture and creative products, constructing an evaluation index system and decision-making framework in terms of cultural empathic evoking. It utilizes thematic analysis to discover and categorize the factors that influence cultural empathy, as well as an evaluation index system to improve the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis framework. It effectively solves the limitations of traditional FMEA, such as single weighting and uncertainty. According to the assessment report, cognitive association failure and scenario restoration failure are significant risk factors for cultural empathy-evoking failure. This study’s findings provide designers with realistic proposals for thematic symbolic imagery and serialized design forms, as well as scientific assessment tools and decision-making resources for cultural industries and policymakers.

The Impact of Cultural Identity on Consumer Purchase Intention for Leisurewear Incorporating Dunhuang Mural Elements

As an ancient cultural element, Dunhuang murals have strong historical and cultural inheritance significance. This study explores the impact of cultural identity on consumers' purchase intention, which has certain theoretical significance and practical value. Theoretically, this research advances the assumptions of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by integrating cultural identity into the model. Based on the existing literature on ancient culture and cultural identity, this study proposes a new research framework to empirically test the relationship between ancient cultural symbols, cultural identity, emotional value, and consumer purchase intention. By analyzing the collected data through structural equation modeling (SEM), the study draws the following conclusions: First, ancient cultural symbols significantly enhance an individual’s sense of cultural identity and emotional value perception, thereby significantly affecting their purchase intention. Second, ancient cultural symbols impact consumers' purchase intention directly and indirectly through cultural identity and emotional value. Cultural identity also impacts consumers' purchase intention directly and indirectly through emotional value. Finally, ancient cultural symbols have a significant positive impact on purchase intention through the chain mediation effect of cultural identity and emotional value. In summary, ancient cultural symbols not only directly enhance cultural identity, emotional value, and purchase intention, but also indirectly affect purchase intention through the intermediary effects of cultural identity and emotional value. The research results provide empirical basis for the use of traditional cultural symbols in product design and marketing strategies. In particular, they provide theoretical support for the marketing strategy of Dunhuang mural casual clothing, which helps to enhance consumers' cultural identity and purchase intention.

Current Status and Solutions for Developing Tourism in Phu an Bamboo Village in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam

Phu An Bamboo Village in Binh Duong Province is a nature reserve, aiming to preserve and develop bamboo - a typical cultural symbol of Vietnam. With its lush green landscape, rich ecosystem and educational value, Phu An Bamboo Village has great potential for developing ecotourism combining cultural and natural conservation. However, the current status of tourism development here still has many limitations, including incomplete infrastructure, weak promotion capacity, and insufficient participation of the local community. This research paper aims to comprehensively assess the current status of tourism in Phu An Bamboo Village, thereby proposing specific and feasible solutions for sustainable development of this area. The research also focuses on understanding the significance of Phu An Bamboo Village for the development of green tourism in Binh Duong Province, and at the same time recommends effective development strategies, such as improving service quality, enhancing promotion, and building appropriate support policies. The article not only contributes to the local socio-economic development but also raises public awareness about protecting natural resources, preserving culture and building a sustainable tourism image for Vietnam.

Creating portraits of the cultures of countries in the holistic sense to enhance well-being and come to grips with the world’s most difficult problems

The article explores the significance of portraying the holistic cultures of nations as a pathway to addressing the world’s complex problems and fostering human well-being. While culture is often narrowly defined through arts, humanities, and history, the paper emphasizes a broader, holistic perspective, viewing cultures as “complex wholes” or “total ways of life.” This comprehensive approach incorporates values, traditions, customs, symbols, and the dynamic interrelations among their elements. Using symbolic representations, such as iconic architecture or artistic works, the article argues for their profound ability to capture the essence of cultures, as illustrated by examples like the Eiffel Tower for France or Gandhi’s use of homespun cloth in India.It is highlighted the potential of cultural symbols to inspire unity and understanding amid global challenges like environmental crises, economic inequality, and social tensions in the article. Furthermore, it is shown the importance of transitioning from an economically driven worldview to a culturally enriched one, prioritizing harmony between material and spiritual values. Through the lens of specific case studies, including Spain's cultural depth, the article illuminates how nations can leverage arts, heritage, and collective cultural identity to shape more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable societies. This transformative vision emphasizes the role of governments, corporations, educational institutions, and individuals in cultivating cultures for a more harmonious global future.

EXPLORATION OF PRINGGASELA WOVEN FABRIC AESTHETICS AS AN INSPIRATION FOR NEW CREATION DANCE FLOOR PATTERNS

This study explores the aesthetic elements of Pringgasela woven fabric, a traditional textile from Lombok, Indonesia, as a source of inspiration for innovative dance floor pattern designs. Pringgasela weaving is celebrated for its intricate motifs, harmonious color schemes, and rich cultural symbolism. By analyzing its visual and symbolic characteristics, this research aims to reinterpret traditional textile patterns into dynamic and functional spatial designs suitable for modern performance spaces. The study involves an aesthetic analysis of the fabric's patterns, the extraction of key design elements, and their adaptation into modular dance floor layouts. It emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural heritage through contemporary applications, fostering a dialogue between traditional arts and modern creative industries. The results offer a framework for integrating cultural aesthetics into innovative design, contributing to both cultural preservation and artistic innovation.

From Temples to the Soul: Exploring the Social Drivers and Psychological Depths of Young People's Temple Tourism Phenomenon

Temple tourism has gradually emerged among young people, becoming a new cultural phenomenon. Based on the theory of cultural semiotics, this study explores the social drivers and deeper psychological meanings behind the phenomenon of temple tourism, revealing the psychological needs and social identity of young people in this form of tourism. Using a qualitative research approach, in-depth interviews with 15 young tourists were conducted to analyze the recreation and reinterpretation of temples as cultural symbols within the young demographic. The findings suggest that temple tourism not only meets the young people's need for spiritual solace and emotional healing, but also serves as an important means of self-exploration and cultural identity. Meanwhile, the widespread dissemination of social media has turned temples into key spaces for young people to express themselves, seek a sense of belonging, and receive emotional support. This phenomenon reflects a process of re-creation of traditional culture and history by young people, as well as their strong need for spiritual solace. By uncovering the social drivers and psychological mechanisms behind young people's participation in "temple tourism," this study contributes new insights to the destination marketing literature. Furthermore, the findings provide strategic recommendations for the development and marketing of temple and religious tourism destinations.

From "Six Contract Spring" to "Six Harmonies Tower": The Auspicious Significance of the Number "Six" in Traditional Chinese Culture

This article explores the cultural symbolic meaning of the number "six" in the idioms "Six Contracts for Spring" and "Liuhe Tower", as well as its profound connotations in traditional Chinese culture. Firstly, by analyzing the idiom "Six Contracts for Spring", its literal and symbolic meanings are explained, emphasizing that "Liuhe" represents the six directions between heaven and earth, symbolizing the harmony and prosperity of the universe, while "Tongchun" symbolizes the revival of all things and the universal vitality. Secondly, this article analyzes the symbolic significance of Hangzhou's "Liuhe Tower" as a historical and cultural landmark, revealing that the tower serves as a link between heaven and earth, reflecting the cosmology in traditional Chinese culture and the concept of harmony in human society. Furthermore, this article explores the auspicious meaning of the number "six" in Chinese culture, and analyzes the important role of "six" in expressing smooth, unobstructed and other beautiful wishes, based on its similar pronunciation to the word "flow". Finally, this article summarizes the multiple symbols of the number "six" in traditional Chinese culture, from language, philosophy to art. Numbers are not only used as counting tools, but also carry profound cultural meanings about harmony, smoothness, and perfection. Through these analyses, this article demonstrates the uniqueness of digital symbols in Chinese culture and their significant impact on people's daily lives.

An Exploration of The Cultural Symbolism of Some Indigenous Cosmetic Hair Variants in The Dormaa Traditional Area, Ghana.

Purpose: The usefulness of traditional cosmetic variants in enhancing good hair grooming and cultural development cannot be underestimated. This paper focused on the cultural symbolism of indigenous cosmetic hair variations among the people of the Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono region of Ghana. Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper used interpretivism, necessitating a limited sample size and inductive reasoning. It used purposive sampling techniques to select seventeen (17) respondents. In-depth interviews and observations were used to gather data. Interpretive analysis was employed for the study. Findings: Some indigenous hair cosmetic variants include shea butter, charcoal, soot, aloe vera and coconut oil. They have undergone very little or no processing to extract the cosmetic product out of it. They signify physical, emotional and spiritual healing, protection and renewal. It unlocks spiritual gateways which have been locked for a very long time. It enhances reproductive health. It also promotes tourism. Modern factors swaying people from using Indigenous products in their original state include globalisation, conformation to current trends and convenience. Research Limitation: This research unbraids the sacred by exploring the cultural symbolism of some indigenous cosmetic hair variants at the Dormaa Traditional Area in Ghana. Practical implications: This research can provide inferences about the sacredness of indigenous cosmetics in Ghana and West Africa. Social Implication: This study will assist traditional rulers and stakeholders in educating the public on the cultural benefits of indigenous cosmetics for present and future generations. Originality/ Value: This study is based on reverence for and projecting cultural values to perpetuate African heritage.

The Metamorphosis of Mazu Belief and the Reconstruction of Mazu Temples

Mazu, also known as Tianhou/Tianfei is the most prosperous belief in Chinese Mainland and in the shipping developed areas like Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese immigrants communities. It forms a unique belief system with goddess worship as its core, and form a religious culture integrating marine culture. This article focuses on the main carrier of Mazu belief, Mazu Temples, and attempts to sort out its architectural evolution strategies in the development of history. This article briefly analyzes the similarities and differences in the forms of Mazu temples in their birthplace and overseas regions. And a systematic summary is proposed, that is, Mazu Temple is not only a religious building and a sacred space experience. But more importantly, it act as a cultural and spiritual symbol, playing a different role in the dissemination of Mazu culture at home and abroad for communication purposes.In previous studies on Mazu culture and beliefs, the vast majority of researchers only focused on the changes in Mazu beliefs themselves, including the evolution of artistic sculptures, paintings, ritual offerings, and their political significance. But few people pay attention to Mazu Temple, or in other words, Mazu Temple, as an important material carrier of Mazu belief, has always been regarded by believers as a simple religious place and used by scholars as a way to study the development of Mazu belief, while its importance in architecture has been ignored.

How Do Building Materials Obtain Their Multiple Cultural Meanings Through Architecture

Building materials are transformed from ordinary objects into significant cultural symbols through the work of designers in architecture. The cultural significance embedded in these materials can be perceived through the buildings constructed from them. At present, most of the research on the meaning of materials is concentrated in the field of design, while most of the research on building materials stays on the discussion of the use of materials themselves. This article will analyze two representative buildings from different cultures and materials: the stone Sainte-Foy Church from medieval Europe and the wooden Hall of Supreme Harmony from Ming Dynasty China. By examining architectural structures, cultural backgrounds, and other relevant information, rich meanings associated with stone and wood can be derived. This analysis shows that building materials have been imbued with multiple cultural significance through thoughtfully designed architectural forms and their respective cultural contexts. This conclusion enhances the understanding of the important role of building materials in architecture and showcases the endless creativity of human society.

Cultural and Spiritual Representation in 'Jiwa Jagad Jawi' for Destination Branding

Jiwa Jagad Jawi is a film about spiritual and cultural tourism in Central Java that takes a symbolically rich and meaningful approach. By emphasizing cultural and spiritual symbols, tourism films can enhance perceptions of travel and contribute to the growth of tourist destinations. Previous studies have extensively explored the role of films as tools for destination marketing. This study analyzes how the film constructs a destination image through the prism of Roland Barthes' semiotic theory. Using Barthes' methodology, the film is examined at both the denotative and connotative levels of signification to understand how it portrays the destination as a deeply spiritual and cultural experience. The findings reveal that this short film effectively highlights Yogyakarta's unique blend of rich culture, historical significance, and spiritual depth as key tourist attractions. By skillfully incorporating cultural and spiritual elements, the film introduces the uniqueness of Yogyakarta. It underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural and historical heritage as an integral part of the tourism experience.