From Values to Beauty: How Human Values and Symbolism Predict Perceived Aesthetics in Traditional Chinese Golden Artifacts

Abstract

Based on the context of traditional craft value research, this empirical study took traditional Chinese gold crafts as the specific subject to systematically examine the relationships among personal values, the symbolism of gold, and perceived aesthetics. This research proposed and found that perceived aesthetics constituted a critical dimension in contemporary studies of traditional craft. Our findings included: 1) Personal values effectively predicted the interpretation of the symbolic meaning of traditional gold crafts, where self-enhancement values predominantly predict sacred symbolism; conservation values predominantly predict auspicious symbolism; and openness to change values predominantly predict fashion symbolism. 2) Personal values significantly predicted the multidimensional perceived aesthetics of traditional gold crafts, where openness to change was the core driver of the perceived aesthetic, practical, spiritual, and artistic expression value, while cultural value and artistic expression value received universal recognition across all value dimensions. 3) All five categories of gold’s symbolic meaning effectively predicted its perceived aesthetics, where sacred symbolism predominantly predicted aesthetic and spiritual value, fashion symbolism predominantly predictsedcultural and artistic expression value, and the positive predictive effect of gaudy symbolism on multiple perceived aesthetics dimensions reveals the complexity of aesthetics evaluation. Mediation analysis further revealed that fashion symbolism and gaudy symbolism played significant mediating roles in the process through which values influenced perceived aesthetics, whereas the mediating effects of the three traditional symbolic types—sacred, power, and auspicious— were not significant. Therefore, this study provided empirical evidence for understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying the evaluation of traditional craft value at a theoretical level. At a practical level, the results offered actionable pathways and support for the contemporary value transformation strategies of traditional gold crafts.