Topology of Information and Media Ecology: Linear Communication and Circular Communion in Western Christianity and Japanese Buddhism

This paper introduces a conceptual framework that reinterprets religious traditions not as systems of belief, but as distinct modes of information transmission embedded within specific media ecologies. We identify two contrasting topological models: the Linear Communication Model characteristic of Western Christianity, and the Circular Communion Model found in Japanese Buddhism. The Western model—exemplified by Protestantism—leveraged the printing press to enable high-resolution, text-based, and decentralized information flows. In contrast, the Catholic tradition historically relied on liturgical secrecy and Latin as centralized gatekeeping mechanisms. The Japanese model, rooted in Esoteric Buddhism (Kūkai) and later transformed by Shinran, emphasizes contextual immersion and radical information compression. We analyze Shinran’s Nembutsu as an essentialist ultra-compression algorithm that minimizes entropy while maximizing accessibility, thereby collapsing the dualism between sender and receiver. This circular topology foregrounds a Ba-oriented (field-based) structure of information. Version 1.0 of this evolving paper establishes the theoretical foundation; future versions will extend this framework toward decentralized digital archives and co-evolutionary human–AI information fields. Publication Type: Conceptual Framework Paper (Preprint) This work proposes a theoretical framework rather than reporting empirical findings. It is designed as a living, evolving paper with versioned updates.