The Digital Reproduction Mechanisms of Buddhist Rituals in Mobile Media Environments

Xiaoru  Xue

doi:10.71204/ftq1ev54

Authors

Xiaoru Xue Hong Kong Baptist University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71204/ftq1ev54

Keywords:

Buddhist Rituals, Mobile Media, Digital Religion, Mediatization, Ritual Reconfiguration, Livestreaming

Abstract

This paper investigates how Buddhist rituals are digitally reproduced within mobile media platforms such as short video apps and livestreaming services. Drawing on theories of mediatization, ritual studies, and digital religion, it examines the structural transformation, semiotic reconfiguration, and reception dynamics of Buddhist practices as they migrate into technologically mediated spaces. The study explores how traditional ritual elements are selectively encoded, visually reconstituted, and reinterpreted through digital affordances, revealing new forms of religious communication and participation. Through analysis of case studies from platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, and Bilibili, the paper argues that mobile media not only serve as vectors for ritual dissemination but also as agents of ritual innovation, where user interaction, algorithmic visibility, and platform aesthetics co-construct the sacred. The research contributes to broader understandings of how religion adapts in the digital age and how digital environments reshape embodied spiritual experiences.

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