Research on Holistic and Systematic Protection of Folk Activities during Lantern Festival in Ganjiang River Basin under the Perspective of Linear Cultural Heritage

Abstract

As a vital tributary of the middle and lower Yangtze River, the Gan River traverses Jiangxi Province from north to south, connecting historic cities like Ganzhou, Ji'an, and Nanchang to form a distinctive "linear cultural heritage" spatial pattern. The traditional Lantern Festival celebrations in the basin integrate diverse cultural elements including rituals, performances, competitions, and culinary traditions, embodying the collective memory and regional identity of local communities. However, accelerated urbanization, modern lifestyle pressures, and the fragmented approach to intangible cultural heritage preservation have led to challenges such as ritual simplification and transmission gaps in some traditional practices. By examining the Lantern Festival through the lens of linear cultural heritage, exploring comprehensive and systematic preservation strategies not only provides theoretical references for coordinated heritage protection in the basin but also offers a vivid case study for cultural innovation within the Yangtze River Economic Belt.