The techno-cultural imaginaries of virtual reality in China: A historical perspective

Abstract

The recent re-emergence of virtual reality (VR) and metaverse has captivated global mainstream media, emerging as a significant cultural phenomenon. However, empirical research focusing specifically on the practices within China’s VR industry, a global leader in the VR market, is noticeably scarce. This paper aims to bridge this gap, exploring how VR, initially a technological innovation from the United States, has been integral to shaping the digital landscape in China, particularly following its conceptual localization by Qian Xuesen under the term “lingjing.” This study examines VR-related history in China and the perceptions of Chinese VR practitioners on the development of VR in both the US and China via the framework of techno-cultural imaginaries. Drawing on interviews with virtual reality practitioners (n = 48), this study observes that Chinese VR practitioners see that VR’s early evolution in the US was tied to a western techno-utopianism, advocating a decentralized, interconnected digital society. In contrast, China’s engagement with VR signifies a divergent path, one that embodies a strategy relying on an ambivalent latecomer advantage to bridge the technological gap with global leaders. Within this context, this paper unpacks the complex nature of technological innovation in modern China indicating that the technological innovation in China is not only a tool for progress but also a flag serving to revive traditional Chinese culture and, more importantly, to bolster specific political ideologies. This contrast illustrates the alternative trajectory of China’s VR industry, which, while initially inspired by the US, is progressively carving out its distinct future.