An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Auspicious Chinese Character Motifs on Ming and Qing Dynasty Ceramics: From Form to Cultural Connotation

Abstract

This paper examines auspicious Chinese character motifs on Ming and Qing dynasty ceramics through an interdisciplinary approach integrating iconography, philology, and folklore studies. Focusing on representative ceramic examples, it analyzes the interaction between form, craftsmanship, and cultural meaning, revealing a clear evolutionary trajectory: from symmetrical and standardized designs in the Ming dynasty to more diverse and dynamic forms in the Qing, from monochrome blue-and-white ware to multicolored decorative techniques, and from imperial ritual symbolism to expressions of everyday aspirations. The study argues that these motifs visually reflect the social structure and collective psychology of Ming–Qing society and proposes “form translation, semantic adaptation, and cultural inheritance” as a viable framework for the contemporary revitalization of traditional decorative motifs.