On the Cultural Anchorings of Knowledge Visualization

This article concerns knowledge graphics from Chinese culture. These graphics are linked to specific designs based on concepts anchored in their own culture and time. The major question behind our research was: What kinds of special qualities do traditional Chinese diagrams have, as regards to their cultural framework and their specific design? At the heart of the research is the conception and creative development of “visual translations.” By redesigning existing knowledge graphics, the research team was able to perceive the cultural implications of the Chinese graphics.