Negotiating Cultural Identity: Fusion and Innovation in the Luolong Lion ‎Dance of the Sichuan-Tibet Tea-Horse Road

Abstract

This qualitative research examines the Luolong Lion Dance, a culturally hybrid folk performance that originated along the Sichuan-Tibet Tea-Horse Ancient Road. The study aims to explore how the Han Chinese lion dance evolved through interaction with Tibetan religious, aesthetic, and musical traditions. Data collection was conducted through literature review, field observation, and interviews with local performers. Using the theory of cultural integration, the study found that the dance developed through three stages: contact, selection, and integration. The lion dance was initially brought to the Tibetan region through trade and migration. It was then selectively adapted to include rhythmic patterns from Tibetan pot dance and costume elements reflecting local beliefs. Eventually, a fully integrated form emerged, combining Han lion dance structure with Tibetan symbolic and stylistic features.

The research reveals that the Luolong Lion Dance is not a simple borrowing but a new cultural creation reflecting the dynamic coexistence of ethnic traditions. This offers new insights into how folk arts evolve as tools of identity negotiation and cultural sustainability. The findings contribute to performance studies and heritage preservation, and they highlight the potential of traditional dance to promote social cohesion in multiethnic communities. While statistical data was not the focus due to the qualitative nature of the research, the study emphasizes the frequency and consistency of cultural elements shared across communities. This work provides valuable knowledge for scholars, cultural practitioners, and policymakers interested in intercultural understanding and community-based cultural preservation.