Sino-virtuality: transcoding Chinese aesthetic principles to Jubensha’s immersive economies

The concept of virtuality in Chinese aesthetics is deeply rooted in philosophical tenets of Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, prioritising emptiness and balanced fluidity over realism. This article analyses traditional Chinese art forms to trace their reincarnation in Jubensha – a new multimedia economy based on social deduction games and live action role play (LARP). This transition underscores how vernacular cultural aesthetics can drive inclusive design of participatory media. Case studies identified core principles of Sino-virtuality: abstraction (yijing意境), negative space (liubai留白) and codified interactivity. These elements coalesce to create immersive multisensory experiences, enabling audiences to co-construct meaning through imaginative engagement. The study then explored Jubensha’s meteoric rise as a participatory successor to Xiqu (Chinese opera), where players collaboratively transform physical experiences into narrative virtualities through abstraction-immersion mechanisms. Empirical insights from gameplay analysis and host interviews position Jubensha as a hybrid cultural infrastructure, blending gamification, education and social connectivity. Framing Jubensha as a Sino-futurist medium adapting classical aesthetics for digital audiences, the study advocates recalibrating media theory through multicultural frameworks to foster inclusive digital ecosystems. Ultimately, Jubensha emerges as both cultural continuum and catalyst for reimagining heritage, demonstrating how ancient principles can shape equitable knowledge infrastructures globally.