Jiayi Liang | Ritualistic AmuseZen: Entertainmentization and Gamification of Chinese Religious Rituals

 
Inspired by the Chinese Buddhist custom of ‘accumulating merits and virtues,’ this interactive installation named Ritualistic AmuseZen creates a gamified and entertaining experience that invites audience participation. Participants are placed in an immersive space reminiscent of traditional ritual sites and guided to engage in ritualized performances, including knocking the wooden fish and kneeling to demonstrate their worship of the gods. They can interact with the digitalized Buddha visuals by creating inputs from the physical instruments placed in the installation and then experience the switch between different game states. By offering a playful approach to exploring and experiencing Chinese Buddhist rituals, the project aims to engage the audience in an interactive and immersive amusement space with ritual elements.
In contemporary China, a digitalization trend has emerged among young teenagers, who seek entertainment through the digital adaptation of traditional Buddhist customs. These practices aim to accumulate ‘merits and virtues’ (known as ‘功德’ in Chinese). ‘功’ refers to ‘good actions and deeds,’ while ‘德’ represents ‘good intentions and good wishes.’ Traditional Chinese customs suggest that by engaging in good deeds or Buddhist rituals, individuals can accumulate merits and virtues, which are believed to bring better futures or even improved afterlives. In the digital realm of China, sacred Buddhist procedures have become cases of pan-entertainment. For instance, people engage with digital wooden fish apps and share videos of Buddhas on social media, seeking good luck. This phenomenon exemplifies the gamification of traditional practices. Therefore, I was inspired to make the gamification process more literal through digital art technology and physical computing.
This project explores the central question of how to create a playful and immersive experience that resonates with contemporary audiences while preserving the essence of Chinese Buddhist rituals. Through meticulous research and design, it offers the blending of ancient traditions with modern technology and entertainment, which sheds light on the evolving relationship between traditional customs and the digital age.