Hani marriage tokens shift from objects to symbols

What the study found: The study found that two Hani marriage tokens, the gold craft "Riyue Pan" and the woven artifact "Pa An," function as symbols that moved from practical objects to carriers of emotional and cultural meaning.
Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that these artifacts materialize the Hani people’s cosmology, collective memory, and gender division of labor, and that they help construct a transcendent cultural identity in marital rituals.
What the researchers tested: The researchers used a semiotic approach, combining Peirce’s semiotic trinity and Roland Barthes’ mythological theory. They conducted fieldwork and image analysis to examine the signifier composition, referential meanings, and pragmatic contexts of the two artifacts.
What worked and what didn't: The results show that the Riyue Pan, described as a rigid symbol, shifts in meaning from fertility worship and amulets to marital alliances through "milk nail patterns" and animal/plant totems. The Pa An, described as a flexible symbol, visually represents migratory habitats and craftsmanship through interwoven geometric patterns and creates tangible emotional connections.
What to keep in mind: The abstract does not provide detailed limitations or discuss how broadly these findings apply beyond the Hani marital context.

Key points

• Two Hani marriage tokens were examined: the gold craft "Riyue Pan" and the woven artifact "Pa An."
• The study treats these items as symbols that developed from practical uses into emotional and cultural carriers.
• The researchers combined Peirce’s semiotic trinity, Barthes’ mythological theory, fieldwork, and image analysis.
• 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.