Enlightenment from Lv Shuxiang’s Thoughtss on the Cultural and Creative Design of Silver Ornaments of the She Ethnic Group in Eastern Fujian

1. Introduction

Today, with the acceleration of globalization and modernization, the inheritance and innovation of national culture have become the focus of academic attention(Song Wei, Zhou Yawen 2024). As an ancient ethnic group in southeastern China, the She people possess a distinctive silver jewelry culture that carries a rich historical background and national characteristics.

The thoughtss of Lv Shuxiang, an outstanding cultural scholar, have had a profound influence on both theoretical and practical aspects of cultural inheritance and innovation. He emphasized that this concept holds significant guiding importance for the protection and development of She silver jewelry culture. It is essential to innovate while inheriting and to inherit through innovation.This research incorporates his ideas into the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments, offering a fresh perspective and methodology that supports the sustainable development of ethnic cultures.

Based on an in depth analysis of the core content of his thoughts, combined with the cultural background of She nationality silver jewelry, this paper explores its application path in modern cultural and creative design. The significance of this study lies in not only helping to protect and inherit the silver jewelry culture of the She nationality but also providing theoretical support and practical guidance for the innovative development of national culture. In terms of research methods, this paper adopts a combination of literature review, case analysis and design practice, striving to explore the enlightenment of his thoughts on the cultural and creative design of She nationality silver ornaments from multiple perspectives and levels.The structure of this paper is divided into five parts, introduction, overview of his thoughts, overview of the She culture of silver jewelry, inspiration from his thoughts for the creative design of She silver jewelry culture, conclusion and future prospects. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential impact of his thoughts on the innovative design of She silver jewelry culture, to explore the path of combining it with modern design concepts, and to protect traditional national culture.

2. Overview of Lv Shuxiang 's Thoughts

2.1. An Exploration of Lv Shuxiang's Life and His Main Ideas

As an important representative of modern Chinese linguistics, Lv Shuxiang (1906, 1998) had profound insights into cultural inheritance and innovation(Xie Huan 2016). His life experiences and main academic ideas offer valuable guidance and inspiration for later generations. Throughout his academic career, he witnessed the development and transformation of Chinese linguistics during the 20th century and made significant contributions to the field. He achieved fruitful results in the field of linguistics, especially in the fields of lexicology, grammar and philosophy of language.

His main ideas centered on profound insights into the nature and function of language, as well as the relationship between language and culture(Shu Dingfang 2024). He believed that language serves as an important tool for cultural inheritance and acts as a carrier of culture. In his research, he emphasized the social and historical aspects of language, asserting that its development was closely tied to societal changes.

Regarding cultural inheritance, he advocated digging deeper into the language resources in traditional cultures, which he believed was the foundation for cultural innovation(Fu Huiyun 2021). He analyzed the language used in folk beliefs. Through this analysis, he revealed the underlying motivations driving cultural inheritance. He believed that the language expressions in traditional cultures, such as idioms and proverbs, not only carry rich cultural information but also have a strong emotional color and identity. These elements are an indispensable part of cultural inheritance.

In terms of cultural innovation, he advocated innovation that is based on the inheritance of tradition(Shen Jiaxuan 2024). In his view, cultural innovation is not merely a denial of tradition, but rather developing and transforming on the basis of it. This idea demonstrates the process of cultural innovation by analyzing changes in the portrayal of a village goddess in language talk(Lv Shuxiang 2016).

Regarding the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments, the ideas provided by him and others offer a theoretical foundation. In terms of integrating the traditional elements of the She nationality's silver ornaments into the design and creating innovative designs, their concepts of cultural inheritance and innovation have significant guiding implications for incorporating traditional elements into the design of She silver ornaments. Through an in depth understanding of his life and main ideas, his (or their) application to the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments can be discussed in more detail in the following chapters.

2.2. The Cultural Inheritance and Innovation Concept of Lv Shuxiang 's Thoughts

As a famous linguist and educator in China, Mr. Lv Shuxiang's thoughtss not only have a profound impact on the field of linguistics, but also put forward unique views on cultural inheritance and innovation. In the concept of cultural inheritance and innovation, he emphasized the deep understanding and respect for traditional cultures, and advocated innovation on the basis of inheritance. This concept has important implications for contemporary cultural creative design(Jiang Sha 1993).

According to him, the inheritance of culture is the foundation of one's life(Zhang Ji 2004). He put forward that "language is the carrier of culture, and culture is the content of language." He emphasized the core position of language in cultural heritage.In the silver culture of the She nationality, silver is not only a practical item in the lives of the She people, but also an important carrier of their culture. The decorations on She silver ornaments often contain rich national stories and symbolic meanings, such as the dragon and phoenix patterns that represent the She people's worship of nature and ancestors. Therefore, in the creative design of She silver jewelry, these cultural elements must be deeply excavated and inherited, so as to become the source of design innovation.

He advocated innovation on the premise of inheritance(Shen Jiaxuan 2004). He believed that innovation stems from a profound understanding of traditional cultures and combining it with modern aesthetic and practical needs, while also aligning with contemporary aesthetic trends to find its modern and practical significance. This concept is embodied in the silver jewelry design of the She ethnic group, resulting in products that possess both ethnic characteristics and modern elements. The elements of traditional She silver patterns and modern geometric design are combined by designers, as seen in reference(Tian, Jie 2020).He also emphasized that education plays an important role in cultural inheritance and innovation(Zou Lizhong 2017). It is believed that education is the most important part of cultural inheritance and innovation. In the silverware creative design of the She nationality silverware, the cultivation of cultural quality reflects the functional role of education influenced by culture on designers and consumers. To integrate and innovate the She culture in the design process, designers need to have a profound understanding of the She culture through the study of the She nationality. For consumers to better appreciate and accept the She culture, they need to fully understand it culture through education, without involving other unrelated cultures such as Wan in this context.

His thoughts on cultural inheritance and innovation provide valuable enlightenment for contemporary She silver jewelry cultural and creative design. By having a profound understanding and respect for traditional cultures, the silverware culture of the She nationality innovates in response to modern aesthetic and practical needs, exhibits new vitality in the new era, and improves the cultural literacy of designers and consumers via educational efforts. Going forward, the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments should continue to embrace this concept and persistently explore and innovate to promote the development of China’s cultural and creative industries.

3. Overview of the Silver Jewelry Culture of the She Nationality

3.1. The Historical and Cultural Background of She Silver Jewelry

To ensure the inheritance and development of She silver culture, this paper provides an in depth discussion of this unique cultural heritage. The She people, an ancient ethnic group in southeastern China, have a long-standing tradition of silver jewelry craftsmanship that reflects their rich cultural heritage and aesthetic sensibilities. Historical records indicate that the She people's silver ornament-making skills date back to the Tang and Song Dynasties. Over centuries, these skills have been refined, gradually developing distinct artistic styles and technical features.

Throughout its long history, the silver jewelry culture of the She nationality has been influenced by the cultures of other ethnic groups. For example, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the deepening of ethnic exchanges, the silver ornaments of the She nationality absorbed elements from other ethnic groups, such as the Han nationality, while maintaining their unique characteristics, making their artistic styles richer and more diverse. With the advancement of the modernization process, the traditional silver craftsmanship of the She nationality faces the risk of being lost. Balancing cultural innovation and development with the preservation of traditional craftsmanship has become an urgent issue for today's society. This challenge requires immediate attention.The significance of silver ornaments in She culture is undeniable. It is not only a symbol of the identity of the She people, but also an important carrier for inheriting the She culture, which has significant social value. The wearing of silver ornaments reflects the She people's admiration for their ancestors and their passion for life during festivals, weddings, and funerals. Therefore, an in depth study of the silver culture of the She nationality not only helps us to better understand the culture of the She nationality, but also provides an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the protection and development of the national culture(Zou Lizhong 2017).

The production process of silver ornaments is the integrates of various skills such as casting, forging, welding, and engraving. Each piece of silver thus embodies the wisdom and artistry of the craftspeople. In the She culture, silver jewelry is not only a decoration of daily life but also a profound symbol of cultural connotation. The totems and patterns on the silver ornaments, which often symbolize good luck and reproduction, reflect the She people's deep rooted love for nature and respect for life.By examining the history and cultural background of the She nationality's silver jewelry, this paper aims to provide the necessary background information for the following analysis, while also offering theoretical support and practical references for the inheritance and innovation of the She nationality's silver jewelry culture. In future research, we hope to further explore the connotation of the She nationality's silver jewelry culture, understand its value and significance in modern society, and promote the development and enrichment of ethnic culture.

3.2. The Artistic Characteristics and Technology of Silver Ornaments of the She Nationality

As an important part of the She nationality's silverware culture, silver ornaments not only bear the historical memory and aesthetic emotions of the She nationality but also reflect their craftsmanship, making them an essential component of She culture. The aim of this study was to uncover the unique value of the She nationality's silver ornaments. This will be achieved through an in depth analysis of the artistic features and techniques associated with these silver ornaments.

The silver ornaments of the She ethnic group exhibit artistic characteristics through their unique shapes, exquisite patterns and profound cultural connotations.The patterns of phoenixes, dragons, and qilins depicted in the silver ornaments not only symbolize the She people’s yearning for a better life of the She People, but also reflect their respect for nature of the she people. According to the data, the production process of She silver jewelry, which has a history of hundreds of years, involves multiple steps smelting, forging, engraving and welding. The craftsmanship of making She silver jewelry is based on this production process, which has very prominent features. The smelting process requires silversmiths to ensure the purity of the silver by being skilled, precise, and carefully monitoring each step. The casting technique requires silversmiths to possess extraordinary skills, enabling them to achieve the desired shape and texture of silver through repeated striking. The sculpting work reflects the silversmith's fine craftsmanship.They can carve out delicate and uniform patterns on silver ornaments, and these patterns, especially phoenix patterns, often symbolize women's nobility and beauty, while dragon patterns symbolize men's power and authority.

The value of silver ornaments of the She nationality cannot be ignored from the perspective of cultural inheritance. It is not only a symbol of the identity of the She people but also an important carrier of their cultural heritage. Each piece of silver serves as a link that embodies the history, culture, and beliefs connecting the She people with their ancestors. In modern society, the production skills required for She silver jewelry face challenges from modernization, leading to difficulties in preserving these traditional crafts. The younger generations' interest in traditional crafts is gradually decreasing, which undoubtedly puts significant pressure on the inheritance of She silver jewelry. Thus, preserving the diversity and continuity of She culture is crucial for protecting and passing down the craftsmanship of She silver jewelry.The profound cultural heritage embodied in She silver ornaments not only showcases the wisdom and creativity of the She people, but also reflects the unique artistic features and craftsmanship of these adornments. In the new era, integrating traditional crafts with modern design concepts for the innovative development of She silver jewelry culture is a significant challenge we face. By conducting in depth research and practical exploration into She silver ornaments, we aimed to discover new approaches to inheriting and developing She culture.

4. The Enlightenment of Lv Shuxiang 's Thoughts on the Cultural and Creative Design of the Silver Ornaments of the She Nationality

4.1. The Combination of Cultural Heritage and Innovation

As an important part of She culture, the silver ornaments of the She people carry their historical memory and aesthetic taste. In the process of cultural inheritance and innovation, integrating modern design concepts while retaining the traditional characteristics of She silver jewelry has become an important issue for designers. Lv Shuxiang's thoughtss on cultural inheritance and innovation provide theoretical support for us, offering valuable references for maintaining tradition while embracing modernity in She silver jewelry design.For the inheritance of traditional cultures, he emphasized that a deep understanding and appreciation are essential, as they embody the essence of traditional cultures. He believed that inheritance is not merely a simple copy, but involves creative transformation based on a thorough understanding. The design of She nationality silverware requires designers to thoroughly study its historical background, cultural significance, and craftsmanship techniques to reflect the unique charm of She culture in their designs. To inherit and reinterpret the traditional patterns of She nationality silver ornaments using modern design techniques, folk silver ornaments should be designed to combine traditional charm with contemporary aesthetics. He advocated inheritance-based innovation. He believed that innovation on the basis of inheritance is not a product without sources. In the design of She silver jewelry, the designers are required not only to master the traditional technology but also to understand modern design concepts and methods. In order to enrich the design forms and functions of the She ethnic group's silver ornaments, designers can use modern technologies and materials that have emerged in recent years, such as laser engraving and 3D printing, for design and development. At the same time, combined with the recent trend of modern minimalist and environmental protection aesthetics, it is helpful to expand the market audience group of She ethnic silver ornaments.

Designers can integrate modern technology into product design. For the She ethnic silver jewelry, this approach can not only expand its market audience but also bring innovation to the product design, thus creating more market opportunities for the product.The specific design strategies include the following points: first, combining traditional cultures with modern design to create a new design that has She ethnic characteristics and deeply exploring the cultural connotation of She silver jewelry; second, modern technology to preserve the essence of traditional craftsmanship to enhance the production efficiency and quality of She silver jewelry; and third, broadening the market channels of She's silver jewelry and promoting its reputation through brand promotion and cultural exchanges. His thoughts provides valuable theoretical guidance for the design of silver ornaments of the She nationality. By gaining an in depth understanding and respecting traditional cultures, as well as combining it with modern design concepts and techniques, we can create works with both traditional taste and modern aesthetics. For the development of China's cultural and creative industry, such development represents not only represents the inheritance and innovation of traditional cultures but also brings new ideas and directions.

4.2. Design Concept and Practical Application

Lv Shuxiang's thoughts have been incorporated into cultural and creative designs of She silver jewelry. Innovation is reflected not only in new design concepts but also at the practical level. Designers are constantly exploring in this field. In the following part, we will analyze the practical application of his thoughts through specific cases of cultural and creative designs of silver ornaments of the She nationality.

In terms of cultural inheritance, he emphasized the ”integration of tradition and modernity”. This idea is fully reflected in the design of the She silver jewelry. When creating a silver necklace, a design group combined the crane of the She nationality with modern design elements. While retaining the uniqueness of She nationality culture, it also aligned with the modern aesthetic trend, which was well reflected in the creation of the She silver necklace. The design won an excellence award in the fifth 'Baoqing Silver Building Cup' jewelry product design competition in 2022( Figure A1 Appendix A).

In the practice of innovation, his view that “cultural innovation should serve the needs of society”[6] provides a new orientation for the design of silver ornaments of the She nationality. Based on this view, cultural innovation designers ventured deep into the She nationality area, collected local folk tales and legends, and integrated them into the design of silver ornaments. They used a series of silver ornaments called “She Yun” as an examples to create a high quality products that blend She nationality characteristics and modern aesthetics. In 2020, the volume of sales volume of this series of silver jewelry increased by 40% compared with the same period in the previous year, and consumers at home and abroad widely praised it. His thoughts have a profound influence on the designer at the subtle emotional level.In the process of creation, designers not only pay attention to the appearance and function of the product but also convey their inner feelings inspired by the She culture. A silver bracelet named “She People's Feelings” was created by a designer. Through fine craftsmanship, the designer integrated the She people's awe of nature and love of life into it, making the product not only a work of art but also an expression of emotions. In 2021, regarding the sales of the bracelet, customer satisfaction reached 92%, which was much higher than that of similar products.In order to meet the requirements of logical fluency and rich details, the designers deeply studied his design philosophy and implemented it in practice. When designing a pair of She silver earrings, the designer conducted a detailed analysis of traditional She silver jewelry techniques and combined these with modern processes to carefully select materials, colors, and shapes. These earrings have achieved good sales results in the market and won the silver award at the 2022 China National Silver Design Competition [6]. The ”Silver Crane Rhyme Creative Design” project (Figure 1) utilizes his ideas to promote the innovation of design concepts and has achieved remarkable results in practical applications. By combining tradition and modernity, his thoughtss provide valuable theoretical guidance and practical references for the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments. His ideas emphasize serving social needs through cultural innovation, conveying delicate emotions, and conducting design practices with clear logic and abundant details.

5. Discussion

5.1. Integrating Traditions and Modernities

Lv Shuxiang emphasized the integration of traditional cultures with modern social needs, advocating for innovative development based on the inheritance of excellent traditional cultures. This concept provides valuable theoretical support for the creative design of the She ethnic group's silver ornaments. In practice, designers delve deep into the historical and cultural significance of She silver ornaments, combining these elements with contemporary aesthetic concepts to create works that both possess both ethnic characteristics and appeal to modern consumers. For instance, in pattern design, designers draw inspiration from auspicious motifs found in traditional She silver ornaments, such as cloud and ruyi patterns. Meanwhile, they incorporate modern minimalist styles.

5.2. Cultural Innovation that Serves Social Needs

He believed that any form of culture should be aimed at meeting people's growing spiritual and cultural needs. Based on this perspective, the She silver ornament Heyun cultural and creative design team is dedicated to developing more life-related and innovative products. Through market research, team members found that the younger generation has a strong interest in personalized custom-made products. Therefore, they launched a “private customization” series of silver ornaments. This allows customers to choose styles and sizes and even engraving content according to their personal preferences, which increases the added value and competitiveness of the products. In addition in order to better spread the culture of the She ethnic group, the design team has planned a series of themed exhibition activities, inviting people from all walks of life to visit and experience, thus enabling more people to understand and appreciate this ancient and unique handicraft.

5.3. The Conveyance of Subtle Emotions

He advocated paying attention to detailed processing in the creation process, striving to convey sincere emotions through works. This delicate and meticulous expression technique of expression is also reflected in the design of She silver ornaments and Heyun cultural and creative products. Designers carefully polish each component, strictly controlling material selection and manufacturing processes to ensure superior quality. More importantly, when conceptualizing the shapes, they fully consider the wearer's comfort and visual aesthetics, ensuring that each piece brings joy and satisfaction. For example, in the design of a pendant named “Heyun”, the designers ingeniously used openwork carving techniques to capture the elegance of cranes within limited space, symbolizing wishes for longevity and good health. When the wearer gently moves the necklace, sunlight filters through the openwork areas, casting dappled shadows that seem to tell stories of peaceful and quiet years.

6. Conclusions

In this study, we deeply discussed in depth the enlightenment provided by Mr. Lv Shuxiang's thoughtss on the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments. We also revealed the important role of cultural inheritance and innovation in the design of these ornaments, combining theory with practice. Mr. Lv Shuxiang's profound insights into cultural inheritance and innovation offer both theoretical support and practical guidance for the modern transformation of She silver jewelry.

The in depth study of the historical and cultural background and artistic characteristics of the silver ornaments of the She nationality showed that these silver ornaments not only carry the historical memories and cultural identity of the She people, but also have very high artistic value and market potential in modern design. The concept of emphasizing innovation based on the inheritance of traditions is vividly embodied in the design of the She ethnic group's silver ornaments. Designers have combined traditional silver patterns with modern design elements to create a series of silver products that have both national characteristics and modern aesthetics, and they have received positive market feedback.

Practically, the case analysis showed the specific application of Mr. Lv Shuxiang's thoughts to the cultural and creative design of She silver ornaments. In the creation process, a design team thoroughly explored the traditional craftsmanship of She silver jewelry, incorporating modern design concepts that have won awards in both domestic and international design exhibitions, injecting new vitality into the dissemination and development, of She silver jewelry culture, and successfully building a silver jewelry series integrating tradition and modernity.

Looking ahead, we believe that the cultural and innovative design of She silver ornaments provides a broad space for the application of Lv Shu-xiang's ideas. Further efforts should be made to enhance research on the silver culture of the She nationality, offering richer materials and inspiration for designers and exploring the rich cultural connotations and artistic value of this unique culture. Designers should embrace the concept of constantly exploring and innovating by integrating modern designs with traditional She silver jewelry techniques, aiming to create cultural and creative products that possess greater timeliness and market potential. To foster an enabling environment for the development of the She silver jewelry creative industry, the government and all sectors of society should enhance support in terms of policy, funding, etc., to protect and carry forward the She silver jewelry culture.