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Hani marital tokens are shown as symbols of cultural memory

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Close-up overhead view of hands working on a traditional loom with a geometric patterned textile in red and teal blue, with a wooden weaving shuttle and colorful thread visible, showing the artisan weaving process.
Research area:LinguisticsSemioticsAnthropology

What the study found

The study finds that two Hani marriage tokens, the gold craft "Riyue Pan" and the woven artifact "Pa An," function as symbolic forms that moved from practical use to emotional and cultural meaning. The authors describe them as material carriers of Hani cosmology, collective memory, and gendered labor, and as part of marital ritual identity.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors suggest these artifacts matter because the Hani people, described as having "a language but no written script," preserve cultural memory and social contracts through material objects. The study concludes that symbolic rhetoric in marriage rituals helps construct a transcendent cultural identity.

What the researchers tested

The researchers examined two representative Hani marital tokens: the gold craft "Riyue Pan" and the woven artifact "Pa An." They used Peirce’s semiotic trinity, which analyzes signs through form, meaning, and use, together with Roland Barthes’ mythological theory, and drew on fieldwork and image analysis.

What worked and what didn't

The analysis indicates that "Riyue Pan" works as a rigid symbol, shifting in meaning from fertility worship and amulets to marital alliances through milk nail patterns and animal/plant totems. The "Pa An" is presented as a flexible symbol that visually represents migratory habitats and craftsmanship through interwoven geometric patterns, creating tangible emotional connections.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe sample size, locations, or detailed fieldwork procedures. It also does not provide limitations beyond the specific focus on two Hani marriage artifacts.

Key points

  • The study examines two Hani marriage tokens: "Riyue Pan" and "Pa An."
  • "Riyue Pan" is described as shifting from fertility worship and amulets to marital alliances.
  • "Pa An" is described as representing migratory habitats and craftsmanship through geometric patterns.
  • The authors link these artifacts to Hani cosmology, collective memory, and gender division of labor.
  • The study uses semiotic theory and image analysis to interpret the artifacts.

Disclosure

Research title:
Hani marital tokens are shown as symbols of cultural memory
Authors:
Pengyou Jiang
Publication date:
2026-02-25
DOI:
10.22158/sll.v10n1p95
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.