A Study on the International Competitiveness and Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies of Chinese Chamber Musicals : The Cases of The Butterfly on the Bund and King’s Table

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In recent years, the global cultural industry has experienced sustained growth, driven by diversified audience demands and digital dissemination. Musical theatre, as a key form of international cultural exchange, demonstrates both artistic vitality and industrial potential. Broadway in the United States and the West End in the United Kingdom, with their mature industrial systems and market mechanisms, have not only shaped the global artistic and commercial landscape of musical theatre but also provided exemplary models for sustainable cultural industry development. In Asia, Japan and South Korea have gradually established comprehensive production and operation systems for musicals, forming the core competitiveness of the regional industry. In particular, Korean musicals, with flexible market mechanisms, refined production processes, and effective cross-cultural communication strategies, have become a leading paradigm in East Asia.Compared with these regions, Chinese original musicals have benefited from initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Cultural Power Strategy, gaining new opportunities for innovation and internationalization.Nevertheless,challenges remain, including incomplete industrial chains,limited market awareness,and underdeveloped cross-cultural communication mechanisms. Chinese chamber musicals, while exhibiting flexible production models and strong local cultural expression, face constraints in international dissemination and audience acceptance. Under the guidance of contemporary cultural policies, China’s cultural industry has entered a stage of high-quality development. The “ 14th Five-Year Plan for Cultural Industry Development” emphasizes accelerating the digital transformation of the cultural sector, fostering new cultural formats, and prioritizing the international expansion and “going global” of Chinese cultural enterprises (General Office of the State Council, 2025). Alongside the upgrading of cultural consumption and increasingly diversified aesthetic demands, China’s musical theatre market has continued to expand, with original works emerging as key carriers of stage art innovation and cultural dissemination. Particularly under the dual impetus of policy support and market demand, Chinese chamber musicals have gained new opportunities for development. However, a critical question remains regarding how to enhance the international competitiveness and cultural influence of Chinese chamber musicals within the context of contemporary cultural policies and globalization. Another key issue is how to construct an international dissemination system that integrates both cultural depth and broad outreach, which constitutes a core concern for both academia and the cultural industry. This study investigates Chinese chamber musicals, focusing on their development pathways and challenges in terms of international competitiveness and cross-cultural communication. Through case studies of two representative works, The Butterfly on the Bund, which was performed in South Korea, and King’s Table, which was exported to South Korea, the research applies Porter’s Diamond Model to analyze industrial competitiveness and integrates cross-cultural communication theories as an analytical framework. Qualitative research methods, including textual analysis, script interpretation, online review analysis, questionnaire surveys, and audience feedback assessment, are employed to systematically examine the artistic features, cultural expressions, and international dissemination strategies of these productions. The study identifies key characteristics and prevailing challenges regarding artistic innovation, market positioning, industrial coordination, and policy support within the Chinese chamber musical sector. The dissertation comprises six chapters. Chapter One outlines the research background, objectives, methods, contents, and innovations, clarifying its theoretical and practical significance. Chapter Two presents the theoretical foundations, including the Diamond Model and cross-cultural communication, and defines the concept and characteristics of Chinese chamber musicals. Chapter Three analyzes the current development status, focusing on domestic and international market trends and audience characteristics. Chapter Four provides a systematic case study of The Butterfly on the Bund and King’s Table, examining their international competitiveness and dissemination strategies. Chapter Five summarizes existing challenges and proposes strategies to enhance international competitiveness and cross-cultural communication. Chapter Six presents conclusions, discusses research limitations, and outlines future directions, emphasizing international collaboration and digital dissemination to enhance the global impact and cultural value of Chinese chamber musicals. The findings reveal that Chinese chamber musicals demonstrate significant potential in creative content, cultural adaptation, and production flexibility; however, they remain constrained by limited dissemination channels, insufficient industrial collaboration, and gaps in cross-cultural comprehension. To address these challenges, the study proposes strategies that include enhancing content creation and stagecraft innovation to strengthen artistic impact; implementing precise market positioning and improving coordination across the industrial chain; developing diversified cross-cultural communication mechanisms and expanding international dissemination channels; promoting policy guidance and establishing platforms for international collaboration; and integrating international best practices with Chinese cultural resources to cultivate differentiated competitive advantages. The comprehensive application of these strategies is expected to facilitate sustainable international dissemination and simultaneously enhance both the artistic and commercial value of Chinese chamber musicals. The innovation of this study lies in combining the analysis of international competitiveness with cross-cultural communication research, constructing a comprehensive analytical framework for the international development of Chinese chamber musicals. The findings provide new academic insights and practical guidance for policymakers and industry practitioners, supporting brand building and cultural export in the global context. Looking forward, Chinese chamber musicals are encouraged to leverage digital technology, international cooperation, and industrial synergy to expand overseas dissemination, continuously strengthen international competitiveness, and enhance cultural influence, contributing to the high-quality, sustainable, and international development of China’s cultural industry.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER1. Introduction 1
• 1.1 Research Background 1
• 1.2 Research Objective 2
• 1.3 Research Methods 4
• 1.4 Research Content 5
• 1.5 Review of Domestic and International Research 7
• 1.6 Research Innovations 9
• 1.7 Research Framework 11
• CHAPTER2. Theoretical Foundation 12
• 2.1 Diamond Model Theory 12
• 2.1.1 Definition of the Diamond Model 12
• 2.1.2 Application of the Diamond Model in the Cultural Industry 18
• 2.2 Foundations of Cross-Cultural Communication Theory 21
• 2.2.1 Definition of Cross-Cultural Communication 21
• 2.2.2 Application of Cross-Cultural Communication in the Cultural Industries 31
• 2.3 Concepts Related to Chinese Chamber Musicals 33
• 2.3.1 Definition of Chinese Chamber Musicals 33
• 2.3.2 Characteristics of Chinese Chamber Musicals 34
• CHAPTER3. Current Development of Chinese Chamber Musicals 35
• 3.1 Domestic Development Overview 36
• 3.1.1 Development Trends of Chinese Chamber Musicals 36
• 3.1.2 Current Market Status and Audience Demand 45
• 3.2 International Development Overview 50
• 3.2.1 International Market Development Trends 51
• 3.2.2 International Audience Demand and Market Characteristics 55
• CHAPTER4. Case Studies on International Competitiveness and Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies of Chinese Chamber Musicals 59
• 4.1 Research Design and Data Analysis 59
• 4.1.1 Sample Selection 59
• 4.1.2 Questionnaire Design and Survey Process 60
• 4.1.3 Data Analysis 62
• 4.2 The Butterfly on the Bund: The First Chinese Chamber Musical Staged in Korea 65
• 4.2.1 Background and Cultural Themes 65
• 4.2.2 Technological Innovation: Breakthroughs in Stage Performance 73
• 4.2.3 Market Positioning: Targeting the High-End Art Market 81
• 4.2.4 Industrial Collaboration: Value Chain Synergy and Derivative Development 85
• 4.2.5 Corporate Strategy: International Partnership Models 89
• 4.2.6 Government Policy Support: Cultural Exchange Platforms 94
• 4.2.7 International Market Opportunities: Market Potential Analysis 95
• 4.2.8 Cross-Cultural Communication: Cultural Expression and Communication Effects 98
• 4.3 King’s Table: The First Chinese Chamber Musical Exported to Korea 102
• 4.3.1 Background and Creative Innovations 102
• 4.3.2 Technological Innovation: Sino-Korean Narrative Integration 106
• 4.3.3 Market Positioning: Targeting the Mass Audience Market 111
• 4.3.4 Industrial Collaboration: Cross-Border Industry Cooperation 116
• 4.3.5 Industrial Collaboration: Cross-Border Industry Cooperation 119
• 4.3.6 Government Policy Support: Cultural Policy Facilitatio 121
• 4.3.7 International Market Opportunities: Market Potential and Competitive Environment 124
• 4.3.8 Cross-Cultural Communication: Cultural Expression and Communication Effects 127
• 4.4 Synthesis and Issues in the International Competitiveness and Cross-Cultural Communication of Chinese Chamber Musicals 130
• 4.4.1 Commonalities and Synthesis of Case Studies 131
• 4.4.2 Technological Innovation: Insufficient Application ofMultimedia 133
• 4.4.3 Cultural Expression: Limited Internationalization of Themes 134
• 4.4.4 Market Operation: Weak Branding and Promotion Strategies 135
• 4.4.5 Industrial Collaboration: Lack of Supporting Industries 136
• 4.4.6 Policy Support: Insufficient Government Assistance 137
• 4.4.7 International Development: Lack of Long-Term Sustainable Planning 137
• CHAPTER5. Strategies for Enhancing the International Competitiveness and Cross-Cultural Communication of Chinese Chamber Musicals 138
• 5.1 Enhancing the International Competitiveness of Chinese Chamber Musicals 139
• 5.1.1 Innovating Stage Technology to Strengthen Performance Quality · 139
• 5.1.2 Improving Scriptwriting and Musical Arrangement 141
• 5.1.3 Accurate Market Positioning and Audience Development 142
• 5.1.4 Strengthening the Industry Chain and Collaborative Development 143
• 5.1.5 Building an International Brand Image to Enhance Global Influence 145
• 5.2 Optimizing Cross-Cultural Communication 147
• 5.2.1 Balancing Cultural Expression and Localization for Global Adaptability 147
• 5.2.2 Expanding Communication Channels to Improve Cross-Cultural Effectiveness 148
• 5.2.3 Enhancing Cultural Integration to Foster Global Resonance 149
• 5.2.4 Strengthening Audience Interaction for Immersive Experience 150
• 5.3 Strengthening Government Support and Policy Guidance 151
• 5.3.1 Improving Cultural Policy Systems and Industrial Support Mechanisms 152
• 5.3.2 Establishing Platforms for International Cultural Cooperation and Promotion 153
• 5.3.3 Deepening Governmental Guidance in the Global Market 154
• 5.4 Drawing on International Experiences to Optimize Localization Pathways 155
• 5.4.1 Learning Market Operation Models from Broadway and West End 155
• 5.4.2 Referring to Internationalization Paths in Korea, Japan, and Other Asian Markets 156
• 5.4.3 Exploring Differentiated Competitive Advantages Based on Chinese Cultural Features 157
• 5.5 Building a Sustainable Mechanism for International Communication 158
• 5.5.1 Establishing Long-Term International Cooperation and Stable Output Models 158
• 5.5.2 Developing Global Touring Models to Enhance Brand Influence 159
• 5.5.3 Leveraging International Arts Festivals and Cultural Exchanges to Strengthen Global Reach 160
• CHAPTER6. Conclusion 160
• 6.1 Research Summary 160
• 6.2 Research Limitations 164
• 6.3 Research Prospects 166
• References 168
• Appendix 172
• 국문초록 177