A Semitic Interpretation Of The Patterns Of Brick Carvings A Case Study Of The Patterns Of Brick Carvings Of EDTS In Linxia City

Semiologist Cahill thinks that human beings are animals of symbols,whose nature is that they can usesymbols to create culture.Symbols are the medium for human beings to understand things.All of the aspects of human life are permitted with symbols and dependent on symbols.Only by relying on symbols can human beings realize the transmission of knowledge and mutual interaction.As a gem in the folk culture of Linxia,Linxia brick carvings has attracted many scholars to make study of it from different angles,such as the studies of its introduction,of its aesthetic art,of its processing technology,of its implementation of protective measures,of its inheritors and of its historical development,etc.Linxia brick carving expresses and conveys different and rich cultural connotations with superb and vivid brick carving patterns.At present,the studies on its cultural connotations are rare.What's more,it is only confined to the brick carving patterns of the Eastern Mansion,Red Garden and Mosques.The EDTS is also a place where the brick carvings in Linxia are concentrated because It gathers not only the main types of patterns of brick carvings in Linxia but also there are some new brick carving patterns after the renovation.In the unique humanistic environment of EDTS,the brick carving patterns of EDTS in Linxia takes on its own features as well.Therefore,based on the analysis of the relationship between the representamen and the object of a sign,this thesis tries to make a study of the patterns of brick carvings of EDTS in Linxia by dividing the patterns of brick carvings of EDTS in Linxia into the iconic patterns,indicative patterns and symbolic patterns,then analyzes the functions of each type of brick carving patterns when,all of which mean to summarize the cultural connotations of different types of patterns of brick carvings.The results show that::(1)Brick carvings of EDTS in Linxia can be divided into icons,indicators and symbols respectively,mainly reflecting the relationship between the ancients and their lives and production,between man and nature.(2)The brick carvings of EDTS in Linxia have the functions of spreading general information quickly,conveying emotions,disclosing the historical reasons of the appearance of the patterns of brick carvings,carrying forward cultures and expressing different psychologies of different nationalities.Therefore the patterns of brick carvings of EDTS mainly record things,reflect personal emotions,subjective willingness and aesthetic consciousness of the ancients and reflect different psychologies of different nationalities and different thinking patterns.(3)The iconic patterns concerning Linxia's history,folk culture and landscape mainly express people's love and admiration by narrating Linxia's glorious history and the rich and colorful customs of different nationalitiesand describing the beautiful rivers and mountains of the local place and our motherland vividly.The appearance of the indicative patterns of ancient Bogus artifacts is related to Wang Anshi's educational reform in the western region in the Northern Song Dynasty,the background of the emergence of a large number of officials and businessmen in official residences during the Republic of China,the strong tea culture in Linxia,the superior vegetation condition in Linxia,and the historical and cultural background of Linxia as a multi-ethnic inhabited area since ancient times.They show the good cultural traditions of Han nationality in Linxia respectively.,the luxurious life scenes of the mansion business and the good business tradition of Hui nationality in Linxia,as well as the rich and colorful life tastes and unique regional customs of local people in Linxia.The symbolic patterns of geometry,animals,plants and mythological stories not only convey western Islamic culture,but also convey Chinese traditional Confucian,Buddhist and Taoist cultures for thousands of years.They mainly express the Islamic nation's pursuit of equality,patriotism,and the eternal spirit of harmony between heaven and man,as well as the cultural psychology of the Han nationality in advocating gentleman's character,seeking good fortune and avoiding evil spirits and longing for the reproduction of life.Among them,with the taboo of Islamic culture on worship of characters,there are only four animal symbolic patterns having auspicious implications in the EDTS.Therefore,the brick carvings of EDTS not only reflect the interweaving and blending of Chinese culture and Islamic culture,but also reflect the characteristics of highlighting the Islamic culture.This is also the general feature of Linxia brick carving pattern.