world picture; image of the world; Weltbild
A somewhat academic term for a comprehensive mental picture or conception of the world, often used in philosophy, sociology, or cultural studies. Comparable to the German 'Weltbild'.
People in the Middle Ages had their own world picture based on religion.
The development of science has greatly changed our image of the world.
Compound of 世界 (world) and 像 (image, statue, figure). The term is a calque from the German philosophical concept 'Weltbild', and is used primarily in academic discourse.