The Cross-Cultural Perception and Interpretation of Chinese Cultural Symbols in the MOBA Game Honor of Kings

Abstract

As Chinese digital games expand globally, games have become important spaces for cross-cultural communication. Honor of Kings integrates numerous Chinese cultural symbols through its heroes, skins, and narratives. This study explores how these symbols are perceived and interpreted by players from different cultural backgrounds, focusing on Chinese and Japanese players.

Using a qualitative approach, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve players, including six Chinese and six Japanese participants. All interviewees had at least three months of gameplay experience. The analysis drawson Hall’s encoding/decoding model, semiotic theory, and cross-cultural communication theory.

The findings indicate that both groups can recognize major Chinese cultural symbols, but their interpretations differ. Chinese players tend to produce dominant or preferred readings based on cultural familiarity and historical knowledge, often accompanied by cultural pride. Japanese players more frequently demonstrate negotiated interpretations, engaging mainly at the aesthetic level and selectively accessing deeper meanings. The study also finds that the game can stimulate interest in Chinese culture, although the depth of engagement varies depending on cultural background and prior knowledge.

Overall, the study highlights how cultural literacy shapes cross-cultural interpretation and suggests that digital games can function as platforms for cultural dissemination across cultures.