A Comparative Study on the Developmental History of Regional Online Literature — Focusing on The Chinese Mainland, Taiwan (China), and Hong Kong (China) (1998-2024)

Abstract

Since 1998, Chinese online literature has developed distinctive regional landscapes in the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan (China), and Hong Kong (China). Based on a three-dimensional analytical framework of  "media-capital-culture," this study examines the evolutionary trajectories of online literature in these three regions. The findings indicate that Mainland China has established an industrial loop characterized by  "paid reading-IP development"; Taiwan continues to follow the traditional path of  "forum-based creation and publication transformation"; while Hong Kong highlights its regional feature of  "wuxia heritage-transmedia storytelling." These differences stem from disparities in media environments, capital logic, and cultural traditions across the three regions. However, the proliferation of digital technology and the shared foundation of Chinese culture have also fostered exchange and integration among their respective literary spheres. Studying the developmental divergences and interactive experiences of online literature in these three regions can contribute to constructing a comprehensive history of Chinese online literature and provide insights for regional literary exchange and cultural dissemination.