Relational–Functional Iconographic Grammar (RFIG) - A Working Grammar for Iconographic Analysis in Chinese Buddhist, Taoist, and Folk Religious Traditions

Relational–Functional Iconographic Grammar (RFIG) is a proposed methodological framework for the systematic analysis of altar arrangements and deity configurations in Chinese Buddhist, Taoist, and Chinese folk religious traditions. Drawing on formal grammar notation, RFIG models iconographic structures through relational, positional, orientational, functional, and hierarchical categories to support comparative analysis across temples, shrine halls, compounds, and religious complexes. This technical note presents Version 1.0 of the framework specification, including grammar productions, relation types, interpretation rules, and worked examples based primarily on fieldwork in Singapore Chinese temples. RFIG is intended as a supplementary analytical tool for digital humanities, religious studies, Chinese art history, temple documentation, and comparative iconographic research. The framework is currently under active development and released to support scholarly discussion, refinement, and future interdisciplinary collaboration.