Metadata description framework for Chinese paper-cutting as traditional art in the context of intangible cultural heritage inheritance

Purpose The existing metadata frameworks are limited to fully capture unique characteristics of Chinese paper-cutting identified as traditional art and intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Therefore, the paper aims to develop a multi-dimensional metadata description framework tailored specifically for Chinese paper-cutting works. The proposed framework emphasizes both the tangible attributes and cultural significance within the broader context of ICH, covering physical objects, cultural context and technical skills. Design/methodology/approach The proposed framework encompasses six dimensions: basic attribute, connotative feature, creator, ICH project, inheritor and derived innovation. Elements from existing metadata standards or vocabularies, such as DC terms, CDWA Lite, VRA Core and FOAF are reused in this study. The ICH project and inheritor dimensions draw elements from the “application form of representative projects of national ICH” and “application form for the fifth batch of representative inheritors of national ICH representative projects.” The derived innovation elements are creatively designed to describe derived works from the original paper-cutting work. The framework’s usability was validated by generating Resource Description Framework (RDF) metadata for two specific paper-cutting works named “Flower Cutting Lady” and “Happiness” in Turtle syntax. Findings The proposed metadata description framework supports a detailed description of the connotative features of Chinese paper-cutting works. It indicates that the designed multiple dimensions assist the comprehensive and cultural description of paper-cutting works, which would promote digital inheritance through the enrichment of the interpretable and machine-readable cultural heritage metadata. Originality/value This paper introduces an innovative application of metadata description framework design and develops a specialized framework that integrates established methodologies with new dimensions tailored specifically for Chinese paper-cutting works. By emphasizing both the tangible attributes and cultural contexts, this study addresses gaps in existing metadata frameworks and proposes a metadata description framework uniquely suited to the nuanced description requirements of Chinese paper-cutting as traditional art.