Digital Transformation and Narrative Innovation in Chinese Museum Exhibitions : Case Studies of the Palace Museum and Sanxingdui Museum = 중국 박물관의 디지털 전환과 전시 내러티브 혁신에 관한 연구: 고궁박물관과 삼성되이 박물관을 중심으로

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In the context of deep integration of globalization and informatization, museums, as core vehicles for the conservation and transmission of cultural heritage and the provision of public cultural services, are facing dual pressures for transformation. On the one hand, there is a growing public demand for immersive, personalized, and in-depth cultural experiences. On the other hand, traditional static exhibition models are constrained by inherent limitations such as spatiotemporal barriers and monotonous narratives. This contradiction hampers the full realization of museums’ cultural dissemination effectiveness. The iterative advancement of digital technologies—such as VR/AR, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, and digital twins—provides key technical support to help museums overcome these challenges. Practices such as the Palace Museum’s “Digital Heritage Repository” and the Sanxingdui Museum’s “Smart Museum System” have preliminarily demonstrated the feasibility of technology-enabled solutions. However, the digital transformation of Chinese museums still exhibits structural shortcomings. Some initiatives fall into the trap of “technological gimmickry,” lacking deep integration between digital tools and exhibition narratives. There is Chen Chen Dep. of Business Administration Graduate School of Gachon University also insufficient exploration of digital storytelling rooted in distinctive cultural resources, leading to prominent issues of homogenization. Moreover, weak user demand-oriented experience design and underdeveloped branding awareness have resulted in the failure to fully realize the practical effectiveness and cultural communication value of digital transformation.
This study centers on the core proposition of "Synergistic Development of Digital Transformation and Exhibition Narrative Innovation in Chinese Museums." Grounded in an interdisciplinary perspective, it employs a comprehensive methodology encompassing literature analysis, interdisciplinary research, case studies, and empirical research to systematically conduct theoretical construction and practical exploration. Firstly, by reviewing relevant domestic and international research, the study defines core concepts such as museum digital transformation, exhibition narrative, and technology-narrative integration, clarifying the internal logic and theoretical underpinnings of their synergistic development. Secondly, it analyzes the current state of digital transformation and exhibition narrative development in Chinese museums, summarizing the application scenarios and phased achievements of digital technologies in exhibitions. Concurrently, it focuses on core issues such as technical bottlenecks, talent shortages, the disconnection between narrative and technology, and insufficient institutional support, thereby distilling practical principles for their integration. Thirdly, selecting the Palace Museum and the Sanxingdui Museum as case studies, it conducts an in-depth deconstruction, based on narratological theory, of these two types of museums' practical pathways in areas such as the reconstruction of narrative subjects in digital storytelling, innovation in narrative structures, and the integration of cross-media narratives, followed by a comparative analysis of their common features and distinctive differences. Finally, addressing the existing problems, the study constructs a system of four innovative strategies—technology-driven development, digital regeneration of cultural content, cultivation of interdisciplinary talent, and institutional policy support—and proposes a long-term mechanism for the synergistic development of digital transformation and exhibition narrative innovation.
Research indicates that the deep synergy between digital transformation and exhibition narrative innovation is an imperative for museums to adapt to contemporary developments and respond to public demands. The core contributions of this study are threefold. Theoretically, it constructs a systematic and localized framework for the synergistic development of digitalization and narrative in museums, delineating the intrinsic mechanisms of deep technology-narrative integration and offering a new analytical perspective for related research. Practically, by extracting differentiated pathways and a quartet of innovation strategies from dual case studies, it provides actionable guidance for the digital transformation of various types of museums, such as history and heritage-site museums. In terms of value, the study offers academic support and practical reference for promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of museum collections, as well as for enhancing the effectiveness of public cultural services and the reach of cultural dissemination.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER1. Introduction 1
• 1.1 Research Background 1
• 1.2 Research Objectives 3
• 1.3 Research Methodology 4
• 1.4 Research Content 6
• 1.5 Domestic and International Research Review 8
• 1.5.1 International Research Review 8
• 1.5.2 Domestic Research Review 9
• 1.6 Research Innovations 13
• CHAPTER2. Related Concepts and Theoretical Foundations 15
• 2.1 Museum-Related Concepts 15
• 2.1.1 Museum Definition and Scope 15
• 2.1.2 Museum Characteristics and Functions 16
• 2.2 Narrative Theory 19
• 2.2.1 Concepts and Elements of Narratology 19
• 2.2.2 Functions and Value of Narratology 24
• 2.2.3 Basic Analytical Framework of Narrative Theory 25
• 2.3 Overview of Museum Digital Transformation 27
• 2.3.1 Connotation of Museum Digital Transformation 27
• 2.3.2 Characteristics of Museum Digital Transformation 28
• 2.3.3 Integration of Digitalization and Exhibition Narrative 30
• CHAPTER3. Current State of Digitalization and Exhibition Narratives in Chinese Museums 35
• 3.1 Development History of Chinese Museums 35
• 3.1.1 Preliminary and Germination Stage 35
• 3.1.2 Development and Transformation Stage 36
• 3.1.3 Maturation and Innovation Stage 37
• 3.2 Overview of Digital Exhibition Narratives in Chinese Museums 38
• 3.2.1 Initial Stage of Digital Exhibitions and Their Narratives 39
• 3.2.2 Exploratory Stage of Digital Exhibitions and Their Narratives 40
• 3.2.3 Diversified Development Stage of Digital Exhibitions and Their Narratives 41
• CHAPTER4. Case Studies of Digital Exhibition Narratives in Chinese Museums 43
• 4.1 Case Study Selection, Research Design, and Data Analysis 43
• 4.1.1 Case Selection 43
• 4.1.2 Research Design 45
• 4.2 Digital Transformation of the Palace Museum and Its Exhibition Narrative Logic 46
• 4.2.1 Basic Overview of the Palace Museum 46
• 4.2.2 Analysis of Pluralistic Reconstruction of Narrative Subjects 51
• 4.2.3 Narrative Structure Analysis 57
• 4.2.4 Analysis of Deep Integration of Transmedia Narrative 63
• 4.2.5 Summary 70
• 4.3 Digital Transformation of the Sanxingdui Museum and Its Exhibition Narrative Logic 71
• 4.3.1 Basic Overview of the Sanxingdui Museum 71
• 4.3.2. Analysis of Pluralistic Reconstruction of Narrative Subjects 76
• 4.3.3 Narrative Structure Analysis 81
• 4.3.4 Analysis of Deep Integration of Transmedia Narrative 87
• 4.3.5 Summary 93
• 4.4 Challenges Facing Digital Transformation and Exhibition Narratives in Chinese Museums 94
• 4.4.1 Narrative Limitations at the Technological Application Level 94
• 4.4.2 Deep-Seated Contradictions in Narrative Logic Reconstruction 96
• 4.4.3 Dilemmas in Resource Integration and Sustainable Development 97
• 4.4.4 Imperfections in Social Participation Mechanisms 98
• CHAPTER5. Innovative Strategies for Digital Transformation and Exhibition Narratives in Chinese Museums 100
• 5.1 Technology-Driven Construction of Narrative Ecosystems 100
• 5.1.1 Development of Intelligent Narrative Engines 100
• 5.1.2 Construction of Transmedia Narrative Platforms 102
• 5.1.3 Intelligent Evaluation and Iteration Mechanisms 103
• 5.2 Digital Regeneration of Cultural Content 105
• 5.2.1 Deep Deconstruction and Transcoding of Cultural Genes 105
• 5.2.2 Cultivation of User-Generated Content Ecosystems 106
• 5.3 Restructuring the Interdisciplinary Talent Cultivation System 108
• 5.3.1 Interdisciplinary Talent Training Models 108
• 5.3.2 Industry-Academia-Research Collaborative Innovation Mechanisms 109
• 5.3.3 Reform of Talent Evaluation Systems 111
• 5.4 Institutional and Policy Safeguards 112
• 5.4.1 Promoting Legislation for Cultural Relic Digitalization Standards 112
• 5.4.2 Improving Tiered Copyright Authorization Mechanisms 114
• CHAPTER6. Conclusion 116
• 6.1 Research Summary 116
• 6.2 Research Limitations 118
• 6.3 Research Prospects 120
• References 123
• 국문초록 132