The interpretation of traditional character creatures into the new cultural product design prototypes. A case study from the Mountains and Seas story

Abstract

The Classic of Mountains and Seas is a classic ancient book that includes multiple cultures, beasts characters and myths in ancient China, which contains a large number of convertible cultural resources and is a pearl of ancient Chinese literature. The beasts culture is one of the important part of Chinese culture. Many myths elements were decorated on the art of lanterns,and which reflects the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese nation,combines abstract structure, anthropomorphic paper-cutting, planar painting and calligraphy, composite decoration and the principle of light and motion, and it is a kind of comprehensive spatial art with strong national characteristics.

Combined with modern aesthetics and redesign the beasts character images, and the lantern design is used as an entry point to explore the feasibility of transforming the image of beasts into cultural products. Expanding the audience scope of the culture of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", realising a new breakthrough in traditional culture, and promoting Chinese culture.

Through the research and analysis of the cultural connotation of (classics of mountains and seas) ,the images and symbols of beasts character and lantern decorations, and takes 20 images of 20 beasts as research objects, and adopts qualitative and quantitative as well as experimental research methods to combine the traditional culture with modern aesthetics, so as to make it integrated with modern lifestyle. It injects vitality into intangible cultural heritage and creates new value. This study takes lantern design as an entry point to explore the application of story elements in new cultural products.

-