The Peony Festival (Chinese Festival Culture Series)

'The Peony Festival' originates from Luoyang, Henan Province of China and is a global carnival gathering that celebrates all kinds of peony plants. This book introduces the ecological and biological features of the peony, the historic and current profile of its birthplace in Luoyang, along with the activities of peony festivals in other regions of China. Many festivals are dedicated to the country's ancestors, natural landscapes, or cultural events, but few of them concentrate on one species of plant. This book explores why and how people participate in a festival to celebrate the peony. It combines all elements related to the festival, such as the biological features of peony, the natural and cultural beauty of peony, the historic background of the peony capital of Luoyang, and the activities of the festival. Written as an English-Chinese bilingual text, the book can be seen as an encyclopedia of peony culture to promote the peony's status as the national flower of China. (Series: Chinese Festival Culture) [Subject: Chinese Studies, Asian Studies, Cultural Studies, Botany]