Unearthing Cultural Identity: Identifying Representative Cultural Elements in the Design of Sanxingdui Museum Creative Products
List of Authors
Hasnul Azwan Azizan, Jialin Hu, Shafilla Subri, Yulin Tan
Keyword
Sanxingdui, Cultural Heritage, Museum Product Design, Symbolic Motifs, Creative Industries
Abstract
This study aims to identify and classify representative cultural elements from Sanxingdui artifacts and explore their application in the design of museum creative products. Sanxingdui, one of China's most significant Bronze Age archaeological sites, holds a wealth of symbolic, artistic, and ritualistic material culture that reflects unique expressions of cultural identity. By analyzing these elements, the study seeks to bridge cultural heritage and contemporary design practices in a meaningful and respectful manner. A qualitative, descriptive, and interpretive methodology was employed, involving thematic analysis of artifacts based on visual documentation, excavation reports, and museum collections. Data were categorized into six major cultural themes: human figures, animal figures, artifact shapes, decorative patterns, cultural colors, and materials with craftsmanship. Open coding and thematic mapping were used to extract design-relevant subthemes and implications. The findings reveal that Sanxingdui artifacts are rich in symbolic content, with deep ties to mythology, nature, and ritual life. These themes provide a robust foundation for culturally authentic design, offering diverse creative possibilities for museum product development. This study contributes a structured cultural element framework for the Sanxingdui Museum and offers strategic insights for the cultural and creative industries. It advances the integration of heritage preservation with innovative, ethically grounded product design.