The Historic Mission of Chinese Semiotic Scholars

Abstract Semiotics as a science of signs originated from Europe and America where France, the USA and Russia are acknowledged as the three epicenters for semiotics studies. Comparatively, in China, the conscious study of semiotics as an independent discipline started much later; yet, the traditional Chinese culture is imbued with bountiful semiotic resources. In response to the prospects of semiotics studies around the globe, how should China, with its deep-rooted traditional culture and unique semiotic resources, integrate itself with the world as a powerhouse in semiotics studies? How can it gain its access to the academic discourse of semiotics? What should it do to establish a school of semiotics studies featuring Chinese characteristics and to contribute to the world’s semiotics studies? These questions, which still remain to be answered, concern not only the process and progress of semiotics studies in China but the historic mission of Chinese semiotics as well. The paper highlights 12 semiotic spheres unique to China and six aspects of the academic philosophy of Chinese semiotics, hereby calling for long-term and sustained efforts to advance the progress of semiotics studies in China. And it is the authors’ belief that China’s bountiful semiotic resources and relevant research achievements will be a contribution to the world’s semiotics studies.