The Nüshu Cipher

The Nüshu Cipher

Wenyu Li and Qianya Nie

"The Nüshu Cipher", aims to promote the spread of the Chinese female script Nüshu among the younger generation. Because this unique female script is currently facing an endangered situation and a problem of broken intergenerational transmission now. Our project seeks to transform Nüshu into an experiential medium by designing an interactive narrative puzzle game about it. Players would be transported into a young woman’s life in Jiangyong in the 1950s. Through learning to decipher Nüshu, participating in traditional wedding rituals, and engaging with everyday life, players can experience the sisterhood and resilient spirit embodied in Nüshu. The project integrates local women’s folk songs, authentic handwritten Nüshu, and traditional ceremonial customs to ensure cultural authenticity and emotional depth. Feedback from Nüshu inheritors and test players further validates the feasibility of this design in terms of its effectiveness in cultural communication and experiential learning.