A CULTURAL SEMIOTIC COMPARISON OF SIGNS AND SYMBOLS IN UZBEKISTAN AND JAPAN
Keywords:
signs and symbols, cultural semiotics, Uzbek identity, Japanese symbolism, Shinto aesthetics, Islamic ornamentation, visual communication, national symbols, semiotic landscape, intercultural meaning systems..Abstract
Signs and symbols are universal yet culturally differentiated systems of meaning that define human cognition and social interaction. This article provides a comparative semiotic analysis of Uzbekistan and Japan, two nations that represent distinct civilizational trajectories — Turkic-Islamic and Shinto-Buddhist. Drawing on semiotic theory, linguistic anthropology, and cultural studies, the paper explores how each society constructs, interprets, and institutionalizes signs and symbols in daily communication, architecture, art, and national identity. The analysis reveals that Uzbekistan emphasizes identity affirmation and religious heritage, whereas Japan privileges harmony, minimalism, and transience. The study concludes that signs and symbols in both societies not only communicate but also preserve the philosophical essence of each nation’s worldview.
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