From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives

Nüshu, or “women’s script”, is a unique calligraphy and female culture traditionally inherited among women in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China. Regarded as “the secret language of women”, it has recently been revitalised. Besides the museum dedicated to preserving Nüshu, previous studies have...

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Main Authors: Yu Qin Lim, Azizi Bahauddin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Program Studi Arsitektur Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira 2025-04-01
Series:ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur
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Online Access:https://journal.unwira.ac.id/index.php/ARTEKS/article/view/3562
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author Yu Qin Lim
Azizi Bahauddin
author_facet Yu Qin Lim
Azizi Bahauddin
author_sort Yu Qin Lim
collection DOAJ
description Nüshu, or “women’s script”, is a unique calligraphy and female culture traditionally inherited among women in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China. Regarded as “the secret language of women”, it has recently been revitalised. Besides the museum dedicated to preserving Nüshu, previous studies have explored its characteristics, linguistic and literacy aspects, cultural significance, and applications in digital technology. Despite its integration into product, fashion, and multimedia designs, widespread awareness remains scarce. This research aims to integrate Nüshu heritage into feminine interior design to honour past women’s wisdom, courage, and creativity with two objectives: to identify significant Nüshu elements for integration into feminine spaces and to develop design approaches for this integration to enhance cultural narrative and depth in feminine interior spaces. This study adopted a qualitative approach where a female interior designer and a female architect in Malaysia were interviewed to gain insights into feminine space designs. Content analysis was also conducted on an exhibition design with feminine attributes, as an example of narrative in feminine spaces. Guided by feminist theory, the discussion centred on infusing feminine interiors with Nüshu cultural symbolisms. Therefore, this paper underscores the significance of incorporating Nüshu elements into feminine interiors to enhance cultural appreciation and connection.
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spelling doaj-art-ebc81797db534e9180972cee0a2a559c2025-08-20T02:55:52ZengProgram Studi Arsitektur Universitas Katolik Widya MandiraARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur2541-05982541-12172025-04-01101536210.30822/arteks.v10i1.35623562From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narrativesYu Qin Lim0Azizi Bahauddin1Interior Architecture Programme School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains MalaysiaInterior Architecture Programme School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains MalaysiaNüshu, or “women’s script”, is a unique calligraphy and female culture traditionally inherited among women in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China. Regarded as “the secret language of women”, it has recently been revitalised. Besides the museum dedicated to preserving Nüshu, previous studies have explored its characteristics, linguistic and literacy aspects, cultural significance, and applications in digital technology. Despite its integration into product, fashion, and multimedia designs, widespread awareness remains scarce. This research aims to integrate Nüshu heritage into feminine interior design to honour past women’s wisdom, courage, and creativity with two objectives: to identify significant Nüshu elements for integration into feminine spaces and to develop design approaches for this integration to enhance cultural narrative and depth in feminine interior spaces. This study adopted a qualitative approach where a female interior designer and a female architect in Malaysia were interviewed to gain insights into feminine space designs. Content analysis was also conducted on an exhibition design with feminine attributes, as an example of narrative in feminine spaces. Guided by feminist theory, the discussion centred on infusing feminine interiors with Nüshu cultural symbolisms. Therefore, this paper underscores the significance of incorporating Nüshu elements into feminine interiors to enhance cultural appreciation and connection.https://journal.unwira.ac.id/index.php/ARTEKS/article/view/3562cultural interior designfeminine designnushu elementsnushu interior designsanzhaoshu
spellingShingle Yu Qin Lim
Azizi Bahauddin
From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives
ARTEKS : Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur
cultural interior design
feminine design
nushu elements
nushu interior design
sanzhaoshu
title From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives
title_full From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives
title_fullStr From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives
title_full_unstemmed From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives
title_short From script to space: Integrating Nüshu heritage into interior design narratives
title_sort from script to space integrating nushu heritage into interior design narratives
topic cultural interior design
feminine design
nushu elements
nushu interior design
sanzhaoshu
url https://journal.unwira.ac.id/index.php/ARTEKS/article/view/3562
work_keys_str_mv AT yuqinlim fromscripttospaceintegratingnushuheritageintointeriordesignnarratives
AT azizibahauddin fromscripttospaceintegratingnushuheritageintointeriordesignnarratives