A Study On The Graphic Compositions Of The Guzi Yangko

The graphic compositions of the Guzi yangko derive from agricultural life. They are a unique symbol of the desire and aspiration for an ideal life cherished by the people of northern Shandong province, and embody the living wisdom and culture of the rural population. As carriers of concepts, the graphic compositions are loaded with rich cultural meanings and aesthetic values. This thesis focuses on the floor patterns of the Guzi yangko through a thorough review of the most common ones. By moving from a consideration of the'small'compositions to consideration of the'big' ones, this study endeavors to decode the graphic compositions so as to account for the multi-cultural connotations and profound aesthetic values behind their artistic symbolism, and thus tries to depict the essence, the culture and aesthetics of the Guzi yangko.The thesis is divided into five parts. The introduction presents the objectives and significance of this research, as well as the state of the research on the Guzi yangko and the methodology adopted in this study. The first two chapters mainly conduct a morphological analysis of the Guzi yangko and the yangko dance compositions. Chapter three places the graphic compositions into their farming cultural context and discusses the occurrence of such graphic compositions in specific spaces and times. As a result, the graphic compositions appear to embody the ideals pursued by the large rural population of northern Shandong Province, while the influence of Confucianism also emerges. Finally, the fourth chapter discusses the aesthetic values of the Guzi yangko graphic compositions in two ways:first by looking at their forms in themselves, and then by investigating the concept of beauty behind their external representations.