Abstract: In the era of digital intelligence, digital technology has become a new trend and a new driving force in fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. It provides unprecedented opportunities and possibilities for achieving this goal through its three major functions–memory construction, cognitive integration and emotional extension. Its application in this process, however, does not necessarily lead to stronger national identity. To a certain extent, it faces adaptive risks and challenges, including memory fragmentation, cognitive disorder and emotional weakening. In light of this, an integrated framework that unifies memory, cognition, and emotion should be adopted and efforts be specifically focused on three major pathways: 1) taking the “reconstruction of national memory” as the core to build a collective memory landscape for the Chinese nation that gives equal weight to integrity and authority; 2) taking “governance of the digital space” as the key to properly handle the relationship among digital power, algorithmic logic and mainstream values so as to ensure the precise guidance and positive shaping role of digital technology in fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation; and 3) taking the “deepening of immersive interaction” as the goal to build multidimensional embodied digital experiences and online-offline integrated spaces for communication, exchange and interaction.

Key words: digital empowerment, community for the Chinese nation, collective memory, emotional identification, inter-ethnic interaction, exchange and integration