Digital panda nationalism: Constructing nationalist discourse through metaphors in Chinese social media

Abstract

By analyzing the metaphors used in Weibo discussions about the giant panda Ya Ya’s travails in the United States in 2023, this study illuminates how Chinese netizens construct nationalist discourse on social media platforms. Employing the method of Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA), we explore how nationalism is articulated through both personification and de-personification discourse strategies in the shape of metaphor. We find that the giant panda, as China’s national symbol, is personified to evoke empathy and to unite Chinese netizens in opposition to the United States. This personification also serves to map China’s humiliating historical experiences with its powerful present, reinforcing national dignity. The binary personification of a positive in-group (China) versus a negative out-group (the United States) strengthens Chinese netizens' national identity. Meanwhile, the United States and its citizens are degraded as negatively connotated animals such as dogs and pigs, objects such as rubbish and mildew, and even evil, through dehumanizing metaphors. Mediated by Weibo mechanisms, dichotomous discourse amplifies the spread of nationalism and mobilizes netizens to engage in petitions. Overall, this study contributes to understanding digital nationalism and Sino-US relations from a micro-discursive perspective.