Disembodiment of Symbols and Presence of the Body: An Embodied Logic of Taijiquan’s Cultural Transmission in the Digital Era

Abstract

Abstract: Research Purpose: As a representative intangible cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, the

transmission of Taijiquan is fundamentally an embodied practice based on "bodily presence," emphasizing

the conveyance of tacit knowledge—such as the inner experiences of "Qi," "Jin," and "Shen"—through

physical comprehension. However, with the proliferation of digital media, its inherent characteristic of

"disembodiment" creates a profound paradox with Taijiquan's requirement for "bodily presence." Current

digital dissemination often leads to a "separation of form and intent" in Taijiquan, a superficialization of its

cultural connotations, and even its reduction to a symbolized and spectacularized cultural token. This paper

aims to address this practical dilemma by exploring how digital technology can transition from dissolving

physicality to reconstructing it, thereby establishing a new paradigm of "technology-mediated

re-embodiment." The goal is to promote the deep-level and sustainable transmission of Taijiquan in the

digital age and provide theoretical reference for the digital survival of other intangible cultural heritage

practices.

Research Methods: This study adopts a research approach that combines interdisciplinary

theoretical construction with typical case analysis. On the theoretical level, it integrates perspectives from

communication studies, phenomenology, sociology, and cultural studies to construct a three-dimensional

integrative analytical framework encompassing "semantics, experience, and society." Specific theoretical

tools include: 1) Media theory, to analyze the disembodied nature of digital symbols; 2) Embodied

cognition theory, to explain the foundational role of the body in cognition and communication; 3) Cultural

memetics, used to structurally decode the cultural system of Taijiquan; and 4) Spatial and social interaction

theory, to explore the construction of digital communities and the mechanism of value internalization. On

the practical level, the study selects typical cases such as the "Kung Fu Metaverse," AR Taijiquan teaching

applications, and international Taijiquan digital communities, conducting in-depth analyses of their

technological logic, user experience, and community practices to verify the validity and applicability of the

theoretical model.

Research Results: The study proposes and systematically elaborates a

three-dimensional logical pathway for achieving the "re-embodiment" of Taijiquan's digital transmission:

mantic Dimension: The computational translation of cultural memes. Taijiquan is viewed as a composite

system consisting of three major meme clusters: "technique, language, and ethics." Through technologies

like motion capture, biomechanical analysis, and natural language processing, it undergoes parametric

modeling and semantic network construction, forming a "dynamic knowledge graph" and a "digital gene

bank" recognizable and processable by computers. This lays a structured, computable semantic foundation

for embodied communication. Experiential Dimension: The phenomenological empowerment through

immersive technology. Utilizing technologies like VR/AR and somatosensory interaction, a

"phenomenological field" is constructed, transforming users from passive viewers into active experiencers.

The system provides real-time correction of user movements through multi-sensory feedback (visual,

auditory, tactile), simulating the bodily feedback mechanism of the traditional master-apprentice system.

This transforms abstract principles into "quasi-experiences" perceivable by the body, thereby enabling the

technologically mediated transmission of tacit knowledge. Social Dimension: The spatial re-embedding

within digital communities. By constructing cross-spatiotemporal online Taijiquan communities (e.g.,

virtual dojos, online group practice, digital commemorative rituals), individualized embodied experiences

are aggregated into "communities of interest" characterized by identity and cohesion. These digital rituals

and social interactions not only reshape traditional master-disciple relationships but also facilitate the

internalization of ethical values and the formation of collective identity, culminating in the sublimation of

cultural transmission from individual experience to social consensus.

Research Conclusion: This study concludes that the effective transmission of Taijiquan in the digital age is not merely a simple digital

replication of traditional models but rather a profound paradigm reconstruction. Its core lies in consciously

using technology to transcend the inherent "disembodied" limitations of digital media, achieving a

"technology-mediated re-embodiment." The proposed "semantic-experiential-social" three-dimensional

logic systematically reveals a complete transmission pathway from content structuring to immersive

experience, and further to value socialization. This framework is applicable not only to Taijiquan but also

provides theoretical support for the digital dissemination of other intangible cultural heritage practices

reliant on bodily practice (such as traditional opera, martial arts, and crafts). Future cultural digitization

strategies should shift from a "resource preservation"-oriented database mindset to an ecosystem thinking

focused on "experience generation" and "community co-construction." Simultaneously, it is necessary to

remain vigilant about potential new risks of alienation brought by technology and to further explore the

complementary relationship between virtual presence and physical presence, aiming to achieve the genuine

"living transmission" of traditional culture in the digital era.