Multimodal metaphors in Zuojiang Huashan rock art cultural landscape

Research on the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape reveals that folk art serves as a complex system of multimodal metaphors, where visuals, materials, and genre collectively convey abstract meanings. The study applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) to demonstrate that these modalities are both complementary and mutually exclusive, with each mode uniquely interpreting the target domain without substitution. This interplay enhances comprehension of the multi-layered cultural significance embedded in Huashan Rock Art, positioning it beyond mere artistic expression. By integrating cognitive linguistics and anthropology, the research provides insight into the motivations behind its creation, offering a novel framework for understanding folk art's symbolic depth.

Zhang, S. (2025). Multimodal metaphors in Zuojiang Huashan rock art cultural landscape. Review of Cognitive Linguistics. https://doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00216.zha