When Technology Integrates Into Culture: Discover the Ultimate Romance of Oracle

The study of ancient characters is no longer just the work of linguists and archaeologists. Many engineers are also using technology to study and interpret the meaning behind ancient characters. The "Intelligent Oracle Bone" project launched by Google and Professor Chen Nan of the Academy of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University at this year's GDD (Google Developer Conference) is an example of the combination of technology and ancient Chinese characters, oracle bones. What happens when technology meets art and culture?

**Keywords:**Science, Technology, Art and Culture Oracle

At the GDD 2019 (Google Developer Conference) held in Shanghai not long ago, developers enjoyed a technological feast.

In addition to pure technology, Google, which has always paid attention to culture and art, also **"When technology meets art and culture"**In his keynote speech, he introduced how Google engineers use technology to pass on traditional literature and art, allowing contemporary people to once again experience the beauty of classical literature and art.

in,**"Intelligently Painted Oracle Bones"**As the highlight of this conference, it left a deep impression on many people. After combining with the power of science and technology, the ancient language of oracle bone script has added a modern touch, bringing a visual impact to the audience.

The earliest study of oracle bone inscriptions began in 1899

Ancient writing has always been full of mysterious attraction to linguists. With the development of technology, they are also being applied by engineers.TechnologyThe oracle bone script is the oldest systematic writing system known in China and East Asia, dating back aboutOver 3,600 yearsIt is an early form of Chinese characters, but most of the oracle bone inscriptions have not been deciphered so far.

It is generally believed that the earliest oracle bone inscriptions were unearthed in the Yin Ruins in Anyang City, Henan Province, and were discovered by Wang Yirong, an official and epigrapher in the late Qing Dynasty.**The 25th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1899)**Found.

This year is**In this special year marking the 120th anniversary of the discovery of oracle bones, Google has teamed up with Professor Chen Nan from the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University to launch the "Intelligent Oracle Bone Drawing" project.**Let us appreciate the beauty of oracle bone inscriptions.

Previously, Google had worked with MIT to propose aA neural network algorithm that automatically deciphers lost texts translates Linear A from 3,000 years ago(For details, please see《 Ancient text from 3,000 years ago was deciphered by AI, MIT and Google developed a machine translation system for lost languages).

When machine learning meets Oracle

Google was founded in 2011**Google Arts & Culture Lab,**Dedicated to using scientific and technological means to study global art and culture and enhance the public's understanding of works of art.

This year, they worked with Professor Chen Nan, a doctoral supervisor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University, to create **"Intelligently Painted Oracle Bones"**It has attracted widespread attention and become one of the most attractive projects of GDD in 2019.

According to the introduction,**"Smart Oracle" is based on TensorFlow and uses a machine learning model to identify the corresponding oracle bone characters based on the strokes through a stroke matching algorithm.**After recognizing the handwritten oracle bone inscriptions, the text will be converted into a dynamic pattern on the screen.

At the same time, the laboratory also launched the same series of "Smart Oracle Bones" **"Smart Shadow Play" and "Smart Kiln Change"**projects, which are also based on TensorFlow.

"Smart Dance Kiln Bian" is a project that uses technology to create ceramic artworks. Google engineers who are interested in ceramic art have created a ceramic generation system based on TensorFlow - Smart Dance Kiln Bian Morphing Clay, which allows everyone to use their own images to generate exquisite modern porcelain that belongs only to them.

Professor Chen Nan's 18-year research on oracle bone inscriptions

"Intelligent Oracle Bone Painting" brings oracle bone inscriptions to the public, making this field that we rarely come into contact with become more intimate and within reach. Behind this project is Professor Chen Nan.18 years's contribution.

If we say that in archaeology and linguistics, the interpretation of oracle bone inscriptions is completely dependent on experience, but now designers and engineers will interpret oracle bone inscriptions from another perspective.A brand new perspective reveals the mathematical beauty and grid secrets contained in oracle bone inscriptions.

Chen Nan has been fascinated by the design concepts in traditional Chinese culture since college, and tried to find an orderly language for modern design and create Chinese fonts. At this time, computers had just emerged, and Chen Nan began to considerDesign oracle with new approaches to vectors, grids, and mathematical geometry.

Chen Nan placed the oracle bones in a dense grid and usedStraight line, vertical line, oblique line, arcThe proportion of the characters is used to solve the coordination of the characters in different directions and sizes. On this basis, he combined the original oracle bone characters into oracle bone characters paintings with network creativity through basic combination, coloring and storytelling elements.

But it is not easy to turn oracle bone script into a complete font.18 yearsAfter studyingOn September 28, 2017, the world's first oracle-bone script design font "Hanyi Chen-style Oracle" was launched for the first time.

This is the first time that the concept and example of font design does not take writing as the main function of Chinese characters. Chen Nan also proposed **"Theory of Metrical Design"**It has opened up a new research-based design model, spanning the professional fields of art design and philology, and created a different path for font design.

In addition, during the 18 years of research and development, Chen Nan Studio has also developed **A series of oracle bone inscriptions such as "Zodiac Oracle Bone Inscriptions" and "Oracle Bone Inscriptions with Expressions"**Technology has given life to these symbols from thousands of years ago, and the ancient characters from thousands of years ago have become "cute".

Last year, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, Chen Nan created**Chinese character themed AR (augmented reality) illustrations,**Participated in the People's Daily "Journey Through 40 Years" event. The AR animation starts with oracle bone inscriptions engraved on tortoise shells and ends with a digitized oracle bone script library.

These studies will enable more young people to recognize, appreciate and inherit the beauty and wisdom of oracle bone inscriptions, and perceive historical culture in a more three-dimensional way.

Technology makes art and culture eternal

We can see that with the support of science and technology, art and culture are constantly adding modern elements. Under the impact of technology, the public is also constantly accepting new art forms.

on the one hand,**Traditional art that has been digitized and technologically advanced.**It is more attractive to the younger generation, adding chips to its inheritance; on the other hand, technology has gradually become an important driving force for artistic and cultural innovation, constantly promoting the development of the latter.

Technology has given art and culture extra vitality, such as**Digital museum,**Using another form of preservation, ancient works of art can be passed down longer over time.

We believe that science and technology, culture and art influence and promote each other, making beauty eternal.

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