Exploring the Learning of Chinese Dragon Dance Culture through the Integration of Tradition and Modern Design Innovation

Abstract

Starting from ‘visual design for learning Chinese dragon dance culture,’ this study explores design innovation's crucial role in preserving and developing dragon dance culture. As a key element of traditional Chinese festivals, dragon dance faces modernisation and globalisation challenges. New platforms offer dissemination opportunities but also bring superficiality and commercialisation threats, weakening dragon dance's rich layers and regional uniqueness. This dilution affects public understanding of its cultural diversity and profound symbolism, impacting the younger generation's ability to present this traditional culture effectively.

The study aims to stimulate young people's enthusiasm and participation in dragon dance culture by integrating traditional dragon dance art with modern design concepts. Based on a systematic collation of Chinese dragon culture, the study provides an in-depth analysis of dragon dance culture's symbolism and social role.

A practice-based mixed-methods approach is adopted, including literature review, expert interviews, questionnaires, fieldwork, and innovative experiments. Using a sample pool of dragon dance types from China's intangible cultural heritage, their historical and cultural backgrounds and practical applications in modern design concepts and popular science workshops are studied. The research is divided into three phases: 1) comprehensively analysing dragon dance's traditional culture and current situation to determine the research direction; 2) establishing a framework to enhance dragon dance's attractiveness and popular science culture, and prototyping; 3) implementing and evaluating the Dragon Dance Experience Workshop and optimising the design.

This study aims to increase young people's interest in traditional culture and public awareness and understanding of dragon dance as an intangible cultural heritage. The workshop practice verified the approach's effectiveness, providing valuable references for transforming Chinese dragon dance knowledge into new visual forms. It also offers a design basis for developing new dragon dance elements and perspectives on learning and presenting other Chinese folk culture knowledge.

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