Shamanic Symbolism in the Robe Patterns of the Chu State: A Semiotic and Archaeological Study
IRA International Journal of Education and Multidisciplinary Studies June 19, 2026 Liangying Zeng, Zongyu Xie, Yuyan Wang et al.
Robes from Tomb No. 1 at Mashan, Jingzhou, representative artifacts of the ancient Chu state, encode a hierarchical symbolic system. Using semiotics and textual exegesis of the Chu Ci alongside excavated bamboo slips, the analysis of three motif categories—divine symbols, cosmic imagery, and botanical patterns—reveals that the decorative patterns convey Chu cosmology, ritual practices, and aspirations for longevity. This finding bridges textual religious records and material cultural relics, providing a foundation for studying cross-cultural transmission of Chu heritage.