Ownership of Craft Knowledge in "Live Transmission": Intangible Cultural Heritage, Digital Games and the Transmission of Technological Skills in Southwest China's Minority Communities

This paper examines the role of digital games in transmitting traditional craft skills and empowering minority communities in Southwest China, specifically focusing on Hunan province. The central thesis posits that local children are crucial inheritors of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and digital games can serve as an effective mediator for their craft learning, addressing existing inequalities in ICH transmission efforts.

The research highlights challenges faced by indigenous ICH holders within government-led "Live Transmission" initiatives, which, despite aiming for economic and cultural revitalization, often marginalize local communities by perceiving them as lacking innovation or digital literacy. This leads to their exclusion from craft industry development and digital ICH education.

Based on field research in a minority ethnic village and the development of a cross-stitch learning game ("Huayao cross-stitch master growth recorder") for local left-behind children, the paper explores how game-based learning influences learners' embodied knowledge and shapes their cultural identity. It also discusses the creative tension between reproducing traditional skills and fostering innovation. The ultimate conclusion is that digital games offer a viable method to empower these craft communities by facilitating skill transmission and promoting cultural continuity among younger generations.