ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/sa.2026.06.001
Redefining Key Nodes and Optimizing Pathways for the Cross-cultural Dissemination of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age—Taking the Yi Ethnic Torch Festival as an Example
Chenlin Kong, Liang Luo*
School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua 617000, Sichuan, China.
*Corresponding author: Liang Luo
Published: June 18, 2026
Abstract
As a critical indicator of the international influence of Chinese culture, the Torch Festival of the Yi Ethnic Group represents the pluralistic unity of Chinese civilization. However, within the dual context of globalization and digitization, its international dissemination remains trapped in the structural dilemma of Cultural Discount. Based on Yu Guoming’s theory of three key communication nodes, this study constructs a full-process analytical framework to diagnose three-fold blockages: scarce international visibility at the reach node due to single-channel distribution and absent algorithmic mechanisms; cognitive dissonance and “Othering” gaze at the decoding node triggered by failed transcoding of high-context symbols and lack of universal value anchoring; and the inability to transform sensory stimulation into value resonance at the identification node caused by absent experiential engagement and insufficient industrial linkage. In response, this study proposes a path reconstruction strategy driven by Digital Empowerment: breaking temporal-spatial barriers via omnimedia matrices and algorithmic distribution at the reach level; lowering cognitive thresholds and transcoding values from religious rituals to universal human emotions using AIGC intelligent narrative and embodied interaction technologies at the decoding level; and constructing a participatory cultural ecology through UGC co-creation and cultural-tourism integration at the identification level. The study further elucidates the symbiotic logic of intangible heritage protection and development driven by technologies such as Digital Twin, demonstrating that digital technology is a key variable in reconciling the binary tension between static authenticity and dynamic modernization. Ultimately, this research aims to promote the paradigm leap of the Torch Festival of the Yi Ethnic Group from local folklore to a global cultural public good.
Keyword
Torch Festival of the Yi Ethnic Group; cross-cultural communication; digital empowerment; communication node; cultural discount; paradigm reconstruction
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Copyright
© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
How to cite this paper
Redefining Key Nodes and Optimizing Pathways for the Cross-cultural Dissemination of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age—Taking the Yi Ethnic Torch Festival as an Example
How to cite this paper: Chenlin Kong, Liang Luo. (2026) Redefining Key Nodes and Optimizing Pathways for the Cross-cultural Dissemination of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age—Taking the Yi Ethnic Torch Festival as an Example. Scientific Access, 2(2), 77-83.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/sa.2026.06.001