APPLYING JIN DYNASTY AESTHETICS IN DIGITAL DESIGN FOR TONGXIANG BLUE CALICO: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY IN ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA

Abstract

This study investigates how Jin Dynasty aesthetics can be translated into digital design for Tongxiang blue calico in Zhejiang Province, China. The research addresses three gaps in the current literature: the lack of a systematic framework for translating Jin aesthetic principles into digital design language, the limited development of empirically evaluated design prototypes, and the insufficient integration of heritage aesthetics with contemporary user demand. A mixed-methods design was employed. Qualitative data were collected through literature review, field investigation in Tongxiang, and in-depth interviews with experts, blue calico inheritors, and design-related participants in order to identify the historical, artistic, and cultural characteristics of Tongxiang blue calico and to extract key aesthetic dimensions of Jin Dynasty aesthetics, particularly nature, simplicity, and harmony. Quantitative data were then collected from potential users to examine aesthetic preference, cultural perception, and design expectations. Based on these findings, digital design prototypes were developed and subsequently evaluated by users and experts in terms of aesthetic coherence, cultural appropriateness, and user response. The study proposes a design-oriented framework for integrating traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary digital practice and demonstrates how heritage-based design can be adapted to present-day cultural and market contexts. The findings contribute to design research, digital heritage practice, and the innovation of traditional crafts through culturally grounded design development.

Keywords: Jin Dynasty Aesthetics, Tongxiang Blue Calico, Digital Design, Cultural Heritage Innovation, Mixed-Methods Research, Prototype Evaluation