‘The Peony Culture Festival of Luoyang China’: Symbolic Interaction and Invention of Tradition in the Context of Self-Identity Revitalization

Abstract

Luoyang Peony is peerless in the world. Modern Luoyang people have invented the unique regional peony festival culture based on the symbolic peony cultural tradition of the region, which contains rich and diverse connotations and has become a cultural gateway for people to understand the area. Festivals are characterized by their ritualistic and celebratory socio-cultural value. However, the cultural analysis of China’s Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival has historically lacked theoretical depth, and it is frequently seen as a vehicle for local marketing, tourism development, and economic progress. This research investigates novel approaches to studying Luoyang, China’s peony cultural festivals, drawing on the theories of “Symbolic Interaction” and “Invention of Traditions.”

This study uses a qualitative research methodology to obtain relevant information through historical documents and field surveys to fulfill the following four main research objectives: First, to study Luoyang peony culture's history and development. The development of Luoyang peony culture was aided by the city’s topography, society, history, and the locals’ expertise in peony growing. One outcome of the contemporary development of Luoyang peony culture is the Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival. Secondly, to study the changes in the cultural significance of the Luoyang Peony under the dimension of symbolic interaction between individuals, groups, and society and to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural tradition of the Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival. Thirdly, I will study “The Peony Culture Festival of Luoyang China” in the dimension of Invention of Tradition from 1983-2022. From local to provincial to national festivals, the Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival has been continuously growing and extending to adapt to the rapid changes of the modern era. Today's Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival has been passed down through the generations through invention, and new creations will also be passed down through the generations. Finally, the unit “The 40th Peony Culture Festival of Luoyang China 2023” will be analyzed. It verifies that Luoyang people use peonies to construct a symbol for the Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival and constantly use this to interact with the outside world and revive the city’s identity.

Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival has a history of development of 40 years. Still, it is not a newly invented thing but an invented tradition under the inheritance of the vast Luoyang peony culture. In addition to helping to reshape the local community’s traditional customs and cultural space and making it a significant symbol for preserving the historical memory and cultural identity of the Luoyang people, this invention of tradition and the reenactment of festivals have become vital tools for the city to promote its culture, grow its economy, and strengthen its sense of self. This study looks at the historical significance and developmental changes of the Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival. It also analyzes the factors contributing to its longevity and attempts to offer resources for the sustainable growth of China’s modern tourism festivals.

-