International Communication Strategies for Minnan Stone Carving Art through Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Semiotic Translation

Abstract

As a national intangible cultural heritage and a vital artistic carrier of the Maritime Silk Road, Minnan stone carving accounts for over 40% of China’s stone carving exports. However, despite its technical excellence, it faces significant challenges in international communication—most notably, the erosion of cultural symbolism and cognitive disconnection among global audiences. Drawing on the dual perspectives of cross-cultural adaptation and symbolic translation, this study integrates relevant theoretical frameworks to examine the barriers to the global dissemination of Minnan stone carving. On the level of cross-cultural adaptation, problems such as cultural cognition gaps and imbalance in communication settings are identified; at the symbolic translation level, issues of symbolic system closure and narrative discontinuity are observed. In response, this research proposes a “Dual-Track Symbiotic Communication Model”, outlining reconstruction strategies across five dimensions: cultural stratified adaptation, communication scene reconstruction, symbolic reconfiguration, layered narration, and collaborative mechanisms. This study not only provides a new analytical framework for the international dissemination of intangible cultural heritage but also promotes the transformation of Minnan stone carving from a model of mere technical export to one of meaningful cultural dialogue.