부산대학교 도서관

Dongba character as a current only one existed and one of the oldest 'living hieroglyphs’ on the planet is called as a ‘living fossil’ in the character development of human society. Dongba character reflects unique and traditional ethnic culture, and receives wide attention from many researchers around the world. Dongba character is widely accepted, and its unique modeling feature as an important element of visual design has an extreme artistic aesthetics and creativity. This paper investigate the possibility of Dongba character’s development and its application in visual design based on the theoretical study and research status, rather than based on the ethnology research or ancient philology study. In theoretical perspective, this study explores all characters including Dongba character and the understanding of people in Dongba character’s historical background. Moreover, it examines the Mysterious value and historical value separately what both have not been widely known in modern society. In analysis of Dongba character mystique, it focus on the function of Dongba character, and three main factors-lines, modeling and color elements that Dongba character differ from other character, which are identified as the most fundamental factors in analysis of characters’ mystique value. Dongba character is used by ethnic minority-Naxi group who live in the southwestern of china Yunnan province. This character is not widely known in China but narrowly known some people and researchers who have interesting Dongba character. Hence, it is rarely seen that the application of Dongba character including their culture in specific case. In addition, it is mostly sold by Culture and Tourism Product, but rarely used as the case of package. One Japanese designer who has concern on the Dongba character exhibits his several works what include the application of Dongba character in the package area. In the empirical case study, this paper utilizes currently used packages, posters, and emblem to analyze the mystique of Dongba character. Through this examination and analysis, not only in the area of visual design, but also it measures the possibility of using dongba character in our daily life and propose the development prospect. As a World Heritage Site, there is expectation that Dongba character can be known to more people, and not only in the area of Philology, but also can be broadly introduced by the area of design for becoming a part of human development.