Digitalization of Intangible Cultural Heritage Music and Its Impacts on Traditional Artistic Heritage: A Case Study of Nanyin

Abstract

As one of the oldest surviving musical traditions in China, Nanyin was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009. As Nanyin becomes increasingly disseminated through digital platforms, this process is not merely a simple technical integration. Rather, it triggers profound transformations in the underlying structure of its artistic field. This study employs Bourdieu’s field theory as its analytical framework, utilizing publicly available videos, account profiles, platform data reports, and media coverage from platforms such as TikTok, Bilibili, and Xiaohongshu as research materials. Adopting a multi-case study approach, the research conducts analysis across three dimensions: field rules, cultural capital, and the habitus of actors. The findings indicate that digital platforms have altered the ways in which Nanyin is perceived, presented, and evaluated. This shifts the logic of performance from “physical presence” in live settings to “algorithmic visibility” driven by traffic metrics. Regarding the digital translation of cultural capital, inheritors, young artist teams, and individual streamers have adopted diverse pathways: foundational extension, collaborative creation within teams, and individual entrepreneurship. Through ongoing interaction, performers and audiences continuously adjust their respective habitus. Finally, the paper explores strategies for living transmission of Nanyin from three perspectives: restructuring evaluation mechanisms, facilitating bidirectional capital transformation, and nurturing habitus development.