Symbolism in Chinese Folklore

Symbolism is one of the most significant approaches contributing to the presentation of Land of Illusion. By visualizing the inherent and extending meanings of symbols in the form of Chinese folk arts, including cut paper, kites, opera masks, among others, we intend to discover the direct or indirect connections, consequences between contemporary and ancient Chinese cultures, therefore enhance our understanding of certain social phenomena.

The project’s fundamental stucture is designed as a traditional Chinese courtyard rendered with virtual reality technology. This solution is made based on the consideration of the profound symbolic meanings of the particular architecture style. Here we want to cite an insightful description upon the structure of Chinese courtyard in Remaking Beijing , the remarkable book written by Prof.Wu Hung –

“The directional symbolism of …related architectural structures is based on ancient Chinese correlative cosmology, which teaches that the movement of the universe follows the ceaseless transformation of yin and yang forces and the five phases (wood, fire, metal, water and earth): life starts from the east (which corresponds to the element of wood, spring, rising yang, etc.) and ends in the west which corresponds to the element of metal, autumn, rising yin, etc. “

– Wu, Hung. “Remaking Beijing:Tiananmen Square and the creation of a Political Space”  The University of Chicago Press. 2005. page20