Jiangyong Nvshu in China: the Gender, Signifier, Signified, and Sustainable Inheritance Path of the Local Culture

Abstract

This study selected Jiangyong Nüshu of China as the object of research, and the objectives of the study are: 1) To study the historical development cause, geographical conditions, cultural context, social context, and the value of Jiangyong Nüshu of China in its circulation area. 2) To study and analyze the changes, causes, and expressions of gender in Jiangyong Nüshu of China. 3) To study and analyze the signifier and signified of the signs in Jiangyong Nüshu of China, and their changes. 4) To study and analyze the status quo, problems, and sustainable pathway for Jiangyong Nüshu inheritance in China. Qualitative research methodology was used in accordance with the above objectives. The research tools included questionnaires, observation methods, interview methods, structured and unstructured focus group discussions. The interview population sample of this study consists of 48 people, including 5 inheritors, 5 people who can read and write Nüshu other than the inheritors, 10 related staff of the cultural department, 8 Nüshu artists, 10 Nüshu enthusiasts, and 10 Nüshu researchers. The validity rate of the questionnaire was 90 %. The data were also analysed using concepts related to semiotics, gender, and sustainable development, and the results of the study were presented through descriptive analysis. The results of the study are as follows:

Firstly, the historical development of the circulation area of Jiangyong Nüshu in China was studied and analyzed; the geographical, humanistic, and social environments of the birthplace of Nüshu as well as the core circulation area were analysed and summarized; and the value of Nüshu was analysed and summarized, which helps to enhance the cultural value and influence of Jiangyong Nüshu in China. Secondly, the concept of gender is studied from the perspectives of sex and gender, the development of gender research, and the content of gender research; gender changes in Nüshu are explored from the perspectives of the primitive Nüshu era and the post-Nüshu era; and the causes of gender changes in Nüshu are analysed from the perspectives of gender system, gender culture construction, and gender temperament. The study finds that Nüshu has shifted from "resistance-defence-blessing" to "other's participation-public sphere-self-awakening" in gender. It is found that the cultural signs of Nüshu, as an important tool for female to express their emotions and concepts, is a way for them to explore their gender. Then, the sign meanings and their changes in Jiangyong Nüshu of China are discussed in terms of synchronicity and diachronicity, and it is found that the signs of Nüshu can be divided into four types: Nüshu font signs, motif signs, poetic works signs, and customs and behaviors signs. All the signs of Nüshu are affected by the historical and social backgrounds, and the signifier and signified have changed, but the deeper meanings of the signs have still been preserved. Finally, by analyzing the conceptual connotation and main characteristics of sustainable cultural development, the study explores the concept of sustainable development of Chinese local culture. The study found that the origin of the sustainable inheritance of Jiangyong Nüshu is in the signs of Nüshu, and put forward the sustainable inheritance path of the signs of Nüshu culture from the perspectives of static inheritance and living inheritance. And it will help to solve the problems in its inheritance and protection. In the era of modern civilization, it will help the diversified dissemination of Chinese Jiangyong Nüshu, and will expand the inheritance and protection of Nüshu, providing a research model and reference for the inheritance and protection of similar cultural heritage.

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