Ritual diagrams, as visual representations of Chinese classical ritual texts, embody both ritualistic and pictorial attributes. Utilizing semiotic and semantic frameworks, the relationships between pictures and words in ritual diagrams can be categorized into two primary types: “picture subordinate to word” and “word subordinate to picture.” These classifications are influenced by factors such as the number of images, book layout characteristics, and the method of text compilation. Historically, print media has served as the primary medium for ritual diagrams, although technological constraints have limited their development. In most printed ritual diagrams, the dominant relationship is one where the picture is subordinate to the word, though there exists an inherent characteristic of “word subordinate to picture.” While the picture-word relationship in ritual diagrams is multifaceted and complex, a noticeable trend towards the “word subordinate to picture” model has emerged in more recent works.