Research on the Digital Translation and Contextualized Application of Chinese Cultural Genes : A Case Study of the Jiangsu Section of the Yangtze River

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

As the profound carriers of China’s outstanding traditional culture, Chinese cultural genes possess high symbolic, structural, and transmissible value. Their digital translation and contextualized application play a significant role in promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of culture. In recent years, although China has actively advanced the cultural digitalization strategy—emphasizing the digital transformation and intelligent application of cultural resources—the implementation process still faces challenges, such as fragmented cultural information and contextual distortion, which weaken the expressive power and communicative depth of cultural genes. Additionally, the integration of digital technology and cultural content remains limited, with low degrees of technical adaptability, thereby hindering the creation of high-quality, immersive cultural experiences. In terms of contextualized communication, the practical application of cultural genes in cultural tourism, education, and the creative industries remains at an early stage, lacking systematic mechanisms and theoretical support. Thus, how to systematically conduct research on the digitalization of cultural genes by integrating theoretical logic and practical pathways constitutes the core issue of this study. This research, centering on the theme of "the digital translation and contextualized application of Chinese cultural genes," focuses on the typical cultural regions along the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River. It aims to address the contemporary question of how to scientifically identify, precisely express, and effectively disseminate cultural genes. Under the Liu Dan Supervised by Prof. Xuehua Jin Dep. of Business Administration Graduate School of GachonUniversity strategic framework of “Digital China” and the ongoing implementation of the national “Cultural Digitalization Strategy,” it becomes urgent to construct an expressive mechanism and communication pathway that suit the digital era, as cultural genes embody the intrinsic spirit and historical memory of Chinese culture. This study establishes a systematic research framework through four dimensions: theoretical construction, mechanism analysis, pathway modeling, and practical evaluation. First, at the theoretical level, this study integrates meme theory, cultural semiotics, communication theory, and experience economy theory to define the connotation, characteristics, and mechanisms of digital communication of cultural genes. A theoretical framework of "cultural genes—digital translation—contextualized application" is developed to explore the expressive logic and cognitive mechanisms of cultural essence in the new media environment. Second, at the developmental mechanism level, it outlines the evolutionary stages of the digitalization of cultural genes, analyzing the triadic drivers of policy, technology, and market forces, and reveals the path from digital collection to integrative innovation. On this basis, by employing case study methodology, the research focuses on the digital expression practices in northern, central, and southern Jiangsu, constructing three types of translation and contextualization pathways: protective digital translation with immersive expression, diverse digital translation with situational reconstruction, and precise digital translation with experiential dissemination. These demonstrate the diversity of cultural expression paradigms and the adaptability of technological pathways. At the methodological and evaluative levels, this study further constructs a structural system for the digitalization of cultural genes, comprising four standards: content organization, translation expression, technical integration, and rights management. It also designs an evaluation framework based on five dimensions—authenticity, integrity, applicability, user experience, and social impact—offering an executable model for the digital governance of cultural heritage. In addition, the study proposes transferable strategic recommendations in areas such as platform construction, public engagement, and international communication, facilitating the coordinated evolution of cultural genes from datafication to visualization, interactivity, and industrialization. The findings indicate that the digital translation of cultural genes has evolved from early-stage information storage to stages of structural expression, symbolic reconstruction, and interactive dissemination. Its internal mechanisms rely not only on technological tools but also on systematic cultural logic. The digital expression of cultural genes exhibits hierarchical, polysemous, and variable characteristics, and effective translation requires multi-dimensional coordination among abstraction, symbol construction, technical embedding, and media adaptation. The differentiated practices across northern, central, and southern Jiangsu demonstrate that cultural digital translation strategies must be adapted to local contexts, with protective, precise, and diverse approaches each holding distinct value in varying cultural ecologies. The main innovations of this research lie in four aspects: theoretical construction, pathway exploration, methodological integration, and practical application. Theoretically, the study constructs a systematic framework based on the triadic structure of "cultural genes—digital translation—contextualized application," advancing interdisciplinary integration among cultural gene studies, digital humanities, and media technology. In terms of translation pathways, it proposes the matching relationships between three translation paradigms (protective, precise, and diverse) and three contextual application modes (immersive, situational, and experiential), thereby expanding and enriching the theory of cultural digitalization pathways. Methodologically, it integrates multi-source data, field investigations, and case analyses to form a comprehensive research loop covering technical analysis, user participation, symbolic construction, and communication mechanisms. Practically, it develops a quantifiable evaluation index system for the digitalization of cultural genes, offering institutionalized and standardized tools and practical support for the digital governance of cultural heritage based on authenticity, integrity, applicability, user experience, and social benefit.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Ⅰ. Introduction 1
• 1.1 Research Background 1
• 1.2 Research Objectives 3
• 1.3 Research Methods 5
• 1.4 Research Content 7
• 1.5 Literature Review 9
• 1.5.1 International Research 9
• 1.5.2 Domestic Research 11
• 1.6 Research Innovations 12
• Ⅱ. Key Concepts and Theoretical Foundations 15
• 2.1 Cultural Genes and Meme Theory 15
• 2.1.1 Origin and Development of Cultural Genes 15
• 2.1.2 Core Characteristics of Cultural Genes 17
• 2.1.3 Mechanisms of Cultural Gene Transmission and Meme Theory 21
• 2.2 Cultural Semiotics and the Symbolic Expression of Cultural Genes 22
• 2.2.1 Theoretical Foundations of Cultural Semiotics 23
• 2.2.2 The Symbolization Process of Cultural Genes 23
• 2.2.3 Symbolic Reconstruction of Cultural Genes in the Context of Digital Translation 26
• 2.3 Communication Theories and the Digital Dissemination of Cultural Genes 28
• 2.3.1 Theoretical Foundations of Communication Studies 29
• 2.3.2 Dissemination Models of Cultural Genes in Digital Media 29
• 2.3.3 Mechanisms of Action in the Digital Dissemination of Cultural Genes 30
• 2.4 Experience Economy Theory and the Scene-Based Application of Cultural Genes 31
• 2.4.1 Theoretical Foundations of the Experience Economy 32
• 2.4.2 Designing Experiential Scenes for Cultural Genes 32
• 2.4.3 User Experience in Scene-Based Applications of Cultural Genes 33
• Ⅲ. The Current Landscape of the Digital Translation and Scene-Based Application of Chinese Cultural Genes 35
• 3.1 Overview of Chinese Cultural Genes 36
• 3.1.1 Historical Origins and Structure of Chinese Cultural Genes 36
• 3.1.2 Diversity and Regionality of Chinese Cultural Genes 37
• 3.1.3 Inheritance of Chinese Cultural Genes and the Challenges of Informatization 40
• 3.2 Development Context of the Digital Translation and Scenario-Based Utilization of Chinese Cultural Genes 46
• 3.2.1 Integration Trends Between Digital Technology and the Cultural Industry 46
• 3.2.2 National Policy Support for the Digital Translation of Culture 49
• 3.2.3 Transformation of Public Demand and Cultural Consumption Patterns 51
• 3.3 The Development Path of Digital Translation and Scenario-Based Application of Chinese Cultural Genes 53
• 3.3.1 Early Explorations of Digital Technology in Cultural Gene Translation 53
• 3.3.2 Technological Innovation and Application Expansion in Digital Translation . 56
• IV. Case Studies on the Digital Translation and Scenario-Based Application of Chinese Cultural Genes 60
• 4.1 Criteria for Case Selection and Research Design 60
• 4.1.1 Orderly Site Selection Basis — The Linear Distribution Characteristics of Cultural Genes in the Jiangsu Section of the Yangtze River Basin 63
• 4.1.2 Basis for Selecting Representative Sites: The Dynamic Nature and Multi-Centric Pattern of Cultural Genes along the Jiangsu Section of the Yangtze River 68
• 4.2 Digital Preservation and Immersive Experience of Cultural Genes in Northern Jiangsu 71
• 4.2.1 Protective Digital Translation of Huai Opera in Northern Jiangsu 71
• 4.2.2 Immersive SceneApplication of Canal Cultural Genes in Northern Jiangsu 77
• 4.2.3 Integrated Analysis of Digital Preservation and Immersive Experience of Cultural Genes in Northern Jiangsu 82
• 4.3 Diverse Digital Translation and Scene-Based Application of Cultural Genes in Central Jiangsu 85
• 4.3.1 The Diverse Digital Translation of Nantong Blue Calico in Central Jiangsu 85
• 4.3.2 Contextualized Scenario Applications of Cultural Genes in Central Jiangsu 94
• 4.3.3 Integrated Analysis of the Diverse Translation and Scene-Based Application of Cultural Genes in Central Jiangsu 98
• 4.4 Precision Translation and Experiential Application of Cultural Genes in Southern Jiangsu 100
• 4.4.1 Precision Digital Translation of Garden Culture Genes in Southern Jiangsu 101
• 4.4.2 Experiential Scene-Based Applications of Cultural Genes in Southern Jiangsu 104
• 4.4.3 Comprehensive Analysis of the Precise Translation and Experiential Application of Cultural Genes in Southern Jiangsu 109
• 4.5 Summary of the Digital Translation and Scene-Based Application of Cultural Genes in the Jiangsu Section of the Yangtze River 111
• 4.5.1 Steady Advancement of Protective Digital Translation and Immersive Scene-Based Application 111
• 4.5.2 Integrated Development of Diversified Digital Translation and Contextualized Scene-Based Application 112
• 4.5.3 Technological Leadership in Precise Digital Translation and Experiential Scene-Based Application 112
• Ⅴ. Recommendations on the Digital Translation and Scene-Based Application of Chinese Cultural Genes 115
• 5.1 Constructing a Multi-Level Digital Translation System for Cultural Genes 115
• 5.1.1 Stratified Translation and Integration of Diverse Cultural Genes 116
• 5.1.2 Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Technological Integration for Digital Solutions 118
• 5.1.3 Establishing Standards and Evaluation Systems for Cultural Gene Digital Translation 120
• 5.2 Promoting the Diversification and Innovation of Scenario-Based Applications 122
• 5.2.1 Creating Immersive Experiences in Diverse Cultural Scenarios 123
• 5.2.2 Unlocking the Application Potential of Cultural Genes in the Cultural Tourism Industry 124
• 5.2.3 Developing Multidimensional Evaluation of Scenario-Based Applications 126
• 5.3 Strengthening the Sharing and Dissemination of Digital Cultural Resources 129
• 5.3.1 Building Open Platforms for Digital Cultural Gene Resources 129
• 5.3.2 Encouraging Public Participation in Digital Creation of Cultural Genes 131
• 5.3.3 Enhancing the International Dissemination and Cooperation of Digital Cultural Content 132
• VI. Conclusion 134
• 6.1 Research Summary 134
• 6.2 Research Limitations 136
• 6.3 Research Outlook 137
• Reference 141