From Practicality to Aesthetics: A Modern Interpretation of Traditional Elements in the Fish-Based Culture of China’s Nanai People

Abstract

The Nanai are a transboundary people residing in both China and Russia. In China, they primarily inhabit the Heilongjiang River basin. A habitat inextricably linked to water has shaped their unique culture. This article is devoted to researching the traditional artistic elements of China’s Nanai people, exploring the pathways and value of their modern transformation. Elements born from the Nanai’s fishing and hunting culture, such as fish skin processing technology and fishing-related ornaments, inherently carry the gene of a “symbiosis of practicality and aesthetics.” Due to the rift between traditional ways of life and modernity, the legacy of their ethnic culture has faced a crisis. State policy, the scientific community, and the design community are providing support. Based on practical aesthetics and through modern design, relevant elements are being integrated into cultural and creative products. This facilitates the transition of traditional art from an “everyday practical carrier” to a “modern aesthetic symbol,” providing valuable experience for the preservation of small ethnic cultures.