Digital Regeneration of Classical Chinese Mythological Stories: An Example of the IP Design of “HOU” from the Classic of Mountains and Seas

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-815-8_72How to use a DOI?

Keywords

The Classic of Mountains and Seas; Modern design; “HOU”; IP design

Abstract

The Classic of Mountains and Seas is an important ancient Chinese text that contains rich mythological themes, archetypal imagery, and early cosmological views. However, in contemporary society, its deep cultural connotations are gradually fading from public view, and the cognitive disconnect and cooling of acceptance of its mythological system are becoming increasingly severe. Therefore, it is urgent to use systematic digital means to reconstruct and revitalize it. The objective of this study is to take the “HOU” image from the Classic of Mountains and Seas as a representative example. Through a systematic analysis of the stylistic features and cultural connotations of the “HOU” image, this study explores its regenerative pathways in digital media and attempts to apply its reconstructed design outcomes to contemporary visual design practices. The aim is to achieve a contemporary expression of traditional mythological imagery and cultural revitalization. The research methodology combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to comprehensively review the cultural context of “HOU” and its relevance in modern design practice. Additionally, through design practice, the “HOU” image is reinterpreted and applied to modern design. The research findings indicate that through modern design techniques, the “HOU” mythological image can not only achieve the visual revitalization of cultural imagery, but also effectively transform into contemporary design elements with unique cultural distinctiveness. It demonstrates promising application prospects in brand image and derivative product design, showcasing the cultural regeneration potential and market competitiveness of traditional mythological resources within the modern design context. This study, from a design perspective, proposes new pathways for understanding the contemporary expression of mythological systems represented by the “Classic of Mountains and Seas”, providing a research paradigm with a reference value for the innovative application of traditional cultural symbols in modern design practices, particularly in IP development and cultural and creative transformations.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - Lina Zhang
AU  - Jianan Zhou
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/08/13
TI  - Digital Regeneration of Classical Chinese Mythological Stories: An Example of the IP Design of “HOU” from the Classic of Mountains and Seas
BT  - Proceedings of the 2025 4th International Conference on Art Design and Digital Technology (ADDT 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 667
EP  - 679
SN  - 2352-538X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-815-8_72
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-815-8_72
ID  - Zhang2025
ER  -