Embodied Cognition in Interaction Design: A Case Study of "The Chronicle of Raising Mythical Beasts from Shan Hai" in Children's Traditional Culture Apps

In the context of deep integration between digital inheritance of traditional culture and children's education, this study aims to enhance children's perception and understanding of traditional cultural content through interaction design informed by Embodied Cognition theory. Taking the cultural narratives of the Four Mythical Beasts from the Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) as an entry point, the research proposes a digital adaptation path that combines "Secondary Narration" with "Child-friendly Reconstruction." Based on this approach, an interactive product titled The Chronicle of Raising Mythical Beasts from Shan Hai was designed and developed. By examining the behavioral characteristics and cognitive mechanisms of children at different developmental stages, this paper constructs an interaction framework centered on bodily engagement, situational immersion, and emotional resonance, which is then applied to visual design, character experience, and task mechanics. Practical application shows that this approach effectively stimulates children's interest in mythological texts and strengthens cultural identity and symbolic memory through interactive experiences. The study provides theoretical insights and a practical model for the dynamic inheritance of traditional culture in digital media.