Collection of Chinese Zodiac Graphic Designs

Author: Shanghai Art and Crafts School Editors
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The zodiac is an animal sign that corresponds to the year a person is born. In ancient China, the ten Heavenly Stems and the twelve Earthly Branches were used to form a system of chronological units, and twelve animals were assigned to match the twelve Earthly Branches. This belief has been established in China for a long time. Based on records in Wang Chong's Lunheng, it can be traced back to at least the Han Dynasty. The vivid imagery of the twelve zodiac animals makes them excellent subjects for patterns. As a form of decoration, they can be used on various personal items, such as jewelry, clothing, tableware, and tea sets. Additionally, since traditional Chinese patterns always carry auspicious meanings, zodiac patterns are typically depicted as adorable. Mr. Lei Guiyuan once said, "In the transformation of Chinese patterns from natural forms to decorative motifs, the artistic techniques of exaggeration and reduction are frequently employed. Exaggerating features strengthens the meaning, making the theme more prominent and the ideas clearer, thus better aligning the form with the content. Reduction involves eliminating unnecessary details that hinder the pattern." In twelve zodiac patterns, the original forms of the twelve animals are not always aesthetically pleasing. However, the patterns exaggerate their endearing qualities while reducing their imperfect details. This collection of patterns is carefully selected from the submissions of students in our "Twelve Zodiac Pattern Design Competition." Some animal images have decorative distortions, while others utilize stylized transformations of Chinese characters or letters. Additionally, some draw inspiration from traditional Chinese patterns and folk art techniques. Although the perfection of each set of patterns varies, their shared strength lies in their creative efforts, exuding a youthful vitality. This is also the core principle we hope to promote by compiling this collection.