Technology-Mediated Communication and Representations of Islam in Northwest China: Insights from Visual Postings on Weixin

Abstract

Abstract During the last few decades, Muslim communities in China have experienced a religious revival in which belonging to a global Muslim community has been a central element. At the same time, in recent years, the State’s campaign of Sinicization of Islam (yisilan zhongguohua) has supported Chinese nationalism and targeted symbols of Islam that are alleged to distance the believers from patriotism. This study explores the capacity for texts, language, and visual choices to build and shape sociality and forms of devotion and to reflect social and political changes. The research examines visual posting on the multipurpose app Weixin (WeChat), providing insights into local forms of religiousness, self-representation, and aspirational identities of part of the Muslim community in Xining (Qinghai province, Northwest China).