Luoyang Sancai Art: Changes from Traditional Sancai Art to Modern Sancai Art
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Abstract
Background and Aim: Luoyang Sancai Art, rooted in traditional Chinese ceramic culture, has evolved from ancient funerary ware to a modern form of artistic expression. This study aims to explore its transformation across historical periods and cultural contexts, focusing on how it balances tradition and innovation.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach was employed, including literature review, field visits, interviews with artisans and experts, and case analysis of representative artworks. These methods help uncover the changes in technology, form, cultural meaning, and market orientation.
Results: The findings reveal that Luoyang Sancai Art has undergone a multidimensional evolution. Technological advances introduced environmentally friendly materials and refined firing techniques. Artistically, the medium expanded from three-dimensional funerary figurines to flat ceramic paintings and diverse modern expressions. Culturally and socially, Sancai art shifted from a ritual artifact to a symbol of regional identity, urban branding, and creative industry. Economic changes also repositioned Sancai as both heritage and market-driven art, with emerging brands contributing to its revitalization and broader consumption.
Conclusion: The transformation of Luoyang Sancai Art offers a case study in the dynamic processes of cultural heritage regeneration, demonstrating how traditional crafts can adapt to contemporary contexts while navigating complex power dynamics, economic pressures, and evolving cultural identities. By bridging historical legacy with modern aesthetic and functional demands, Sancai art has evolved into a sustainable cultural system. Its journey reflects broader patterns of intangible heritage regeneration in a globalized world, where tradition is reimagined through design, policy, education, and cultural entrepreneurship.
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