Application of Chu-Style Lacquerware Cultural Elements in Furniture Design Based on the Integrated AHP-FCE Method

Abstract

As global attention to intangible cultural heritage (ICH) continues to grow, the contemporary design adaptation of traditional crafts, such as Chu-style lacquerware, faces a dual challenge: subjective biases in design decision-making and the superficial extraction of cultural connotations. To address these limitations, this study proposes a quantitative design and evaluation framework that integrates memetics, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE). First, the cultural memes of Chu-style lacquerware are systematically deconstructed across material, behavioral, and spiritual dimensions, yielding 29 specific evaluation indicators. Second, AHP is applied to calculate the weight of each indicator, establishing the core priority of elements such as phoenix motifs, geometric forms, and the red color palette. Based on these findings, three modern furniture design schemes were developed and objectively assessed using FCE to determine the optimal solution. The results indicate that this integrated approach effectively balances cultural inheritance, aesthetic experience, and functional practicality. This study offers a scientifically rigorous and replicable pathway for the sustainable safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, while providing a valuable reference for integrating traditional cultural characteristics into modern furniture design.