Chelonia.

• Main Author: Choo, Ling Miin.
• Other Authors: Wang I-Hsuan Cindy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Visual arts and music::Print media
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52359
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Chinese people are well-known for their amazing power of observation and philosophical conceptualization. They utilized their skills to watch animals and their behaviors and that resulted in finding out their characteristics. This knowledge was then used to connect the animal traits with the humans. Many animals like tortoises were objects of philosophical inner meaning and it has been passed on in generations. Though these animals have deep significant meaning to the Chinese, they were mistreated with many unethical practices due to the misunderstanding of cultural practices and beliefs. Tortoise for example, often used as a symbol to determine a person’s life; longevity, however, do not have control over its life. They are often used for illegal wild life trading, keep as pet or even being served on dinning table as cuisine due to Chinese belief in its medical purposes. In my project, I will like to revive the cultural importance of tortoise to the Chinese and draws the close connection of these tortoises to us human being and how we should protect and threat them in a rightful manner, preserving them as well as their rich tradition for our next generation.