Contemporary Chinese Shadow Puppet Character Design Inspired by Traditional Shadow Puppetry Culture

Bao Zhu; Wechagorn Talwanna

doi:10.71222/0vja2j76

Authors

Bao Zhu Chakrabongse Bhuvanarth International College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand Author
Wechagorn Talwanna Chakrabongse Bhuvanarth International College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71222/0vja2j76

Keywords:

shadow puppetry, game character design, cultural translation, intangible cultural heritage, Journey to the West, digital adaptation

Abstract

Chinese shadow puppetry, inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011, faces a crisis of media disconnection and aesthetic mismatch with contemporary audiences. This research explores how the visual language of traditional shadow puppetry can be translated into contemporary game character design. By deconstructing the artistic features of six major regional schools (Shaanxi, Jinzhou, Wannan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Lufeng), we extract core genetic elements: contour, color symbolism, decorative patterns, and structural modularity. Using the classic narrative of Journey to the West as a content vehicle, we develop a four-stage design methodology—deconstruction, extraction, reconstruction, and adaptation—to create twelve game characters that retain traditional aesthetic genes while meeting modern digital media requirements. Expert evaluation using the Index of Consistency (IOC) confirms the cultural accuracy and design feasibility of the outcomes. This study provides an operational pathway for the creative transformation of intangible cultural heritage and demonstrates the potential of traditional aesthetics in the digital entertainment industry, offering both theoretical insights for heritage studies and practical guidance for game art design.

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