Publications
Multimodal metaphors in Zuojiang Huashan rock art cultural landscape
Research on the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape reveals that folk art serves as a complex system of multimodal metaphors, where visuals, materials, and genre collectively convey abstract meanings. The study applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) to demonstrate that these modalities are both complementary and mutually exclusive, with each mode uniquely interpreting the target domain without substitution. This interplay enhances comprehension of the multi-layered cultural significance embedded in Huashan Rock Art, positioning it beyond mere artistic expression. By integrating cognitive linguistics and anthropology, the research provides insight into the motivations behind its creation, offering a novel framework for understanding folk art's symbolic depth.
Corpus-based Translation Study of Cultural Heritage International Publicity--A Case Study of Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art
A corpus-based translation study of the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape reveals that strategic international publicity through Chinese-English translation can significantly enhance its global recognition, research value, and economic potential. The analysis highlights the importance of government-led initiatives in improving translation quality and training specialized talent to support cultural heritage promotion. Effective translation not only preserves the rich diversity of world cultures but also fosters cross-border collaboration, strengthens diplomatic ties, and boosts China's cultural tourism industry. This study provides a model for other UNESCO World Heritage Sites seeking similar international visibility through corpus-based translation research.
Late-Holocene vegetation change reveals the environment of ancient people and the origin of Huashan cliff paintings in Guangxi, southwestern China
A pollen record from the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape reveals that mixed broad-leaf and conifer forests dominated the region during the period of cliff painting creation (2370–2115 cal. yr BP), providing key materials for ancient artworks. The study suggests that a humid climate facilitated human activities, while short-term droughts may have triggered social instability, including warfare. This research highlights the interplay between environmental conditions and human civilization in southwestern China, emphasizing the need to integrate natural and socio-political analyses to understand ancient cultural practices.
Social Values and Rock Art Tourism: An Ethnographic Study of the Huashan Rock Art Area (China)
Rock art tourism, while reinforcing social values tied to heritage sites, can also diminish local communities' emotional attachment due to undesired consequences of World Heritage designation efforts. A study focusing on the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape in China—China's first rock art site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016—reveals that tourism promotion initiatives, driven by authorities, have paradoxically both strengthened and weakened local social values. The research, employing ethnographic methods, highlights the need for a critical reassessment of global and Chinese rock art heritage management strategies to balance preservation, cultural significance, and community impact.
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