The Deity as Design System

An AR Interactive Creation System for Cross-Cultural Reinterpretation of Taiwanese Wangye Iconography

Abstract

This study presents an Augmented Reality (AR) interactive system that reconceptualizes the deity statue of Taiwanese Wangye worship as a modular “visual design system.” The traditional sacred figure is deconstructed into six semantic layers—facial expression, armor, ritual implements, mudras, decorative patterns, and symbolic backgrounds—enabling users to inspect, reassemble, and culturally reinterpret each component through a mobile AR interface. By positioning folk religious iconography as a participatory design framework rather than a static artifact, the system fosters cross-cultural dialogue and transforms passive heritage observation into embodied co-creation.