Abstract: China and Japan are close neighbors facing each other across a narrow strip of water. Their relationship went through many historical stages. During the Chinese Tang Dynasty, their cultural exchange was promoted which influenced Japanese society and culture deeply and significantly. On the other hand, since its modernization, Japan made great success in economy and society and became a powerful developed country. Its pop-culture, represented by cartoon and animation was very prevalent in China and profoundly affected the young generation. The exchange of the two countries’ cultural input and output reflected the interaction of their policy, economy and culture in different times. The Japanese classical anime The Twelve Kingdoms contained many Chinese ancient cultural elements in its plot and artistic expression, which reflected the Chinese culture’s influence on Japanese animation. Meanwhile the animation had been a great success in Chinese market. So, it provided valuable experience for Chinese cultural industry. The thesis took use of the method of literature research, collected related materials and focused on how the Chinese elements were embodied in The Twelve Kingdoms, and took it as an example to discussed how to make good use of the culture resources creatively to develop the Chinese animation industry.

  Key words: Chinese culture The Twelve Kingdoms animation industry

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Introduction-1

1.Cultural Exchange between China and Japan.-1

1.1 Ancient Chinese culture’s influence on Japanese-1

1.2 Japanese Anime’s influence on modern Chinese popular culture-2

2. Brief Introduction of The Twelve Kingdoms-2

3.Research on The Twelve Kingdoms-3

3.1 Scene-setting of The Twelve Kingdoms.-3

3.2 Institutions of The Twelve Kingdoms.-5

3.3 Chinese Classical Art’s influence on The Twelve Kingdoms-6

3.3.1 Music in The Twelve Kingdoms.-6

3.3.2 Painting style of The Twelve Kingdoms.-7

4. The Enlightenment to Chinese Animation Industry-8

Conclusion-9

Bibliography-10

Acknowledgements-10