Chinese Weifang kites: Semiotic interpretation of auspicious motifs and the dissemination of folk educational functions

Quanbao Guo and Prathabjai Suwanthada

African Educational Research Journal
Published: April 17 2026
Volume 14, Issue 2
Pages 354-365
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19631636

Abstract

This study adopts a qualitative research design to examine the auspicious motifs of Weifang kites from a semiotic perspective and to explain their folk educational functions in contemporary society. The research focuses on the historical evolution, symbolic logic, educational meanings, and transmission pathways of kite patterns. Fieldwork was conducted in Weifang with a purposively selected group of 20 participants, including kite inheritors, related practitioners, intangible cultural heritage managers, local residents, tourists, and educators. Semi-structured interviews served as the primary source of field data, supplemented by short questionnaires, on-site observation, and documentary review. The collected materials were analysed through thematic coding, triangulation, and comparative interpretation. The findings show that the motifs of Weifang kites form a relatively stable symbolic system shaped by local ecology, folk beliefs, homophonic association, and social ethics. These motifs function not only as decorative images but also as cultural carriers that transmit ideas of blessing, order, fertility, morality, and identity through the everyday practices of making, viewing, and flying kites. At the same time, commercialization and contemporary visual consumption are weakening some traditional meanings, making pedagogical reinterpretation increasingly necessary. The study argues that the safeguarding of Weifang kites should move beyond craft preservation toward the transmission of meaning through formal and non-formal education, community participation, and culturally informed design innovation.

Keywords: Weifang Kites, semiotics, folk education, cultural heritage, cultural values.

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