From "Fragrant Herbs and Noble Figures" to Cultural Foundations: Orchid Culture Education as a Speculative Study on Cultural Confidence Education in Zhoushan City

Abstract

Orchid culture boasts a long-standing history in China. As one of the "Four Gentlemen" , Orchid Culture is intrinsically linked to the historical trajectory of China. It carries the accumulated essence of millennia of Chinese thought, ethics, and art, profoundly influencing the behavioral habits, modes of thinking, and value systems of the Chinese people. Zhoushan, a renowned native habitat of orchids in China, possesses an Orchid Culture uniquely shaped by its distinctive marine environment and Buddhist influences. This culture integrates the spirit of marine resilience, the Zen philosophy of the Buddhist realm, and the virtues of the gentlemanly ideal, serving as a vital carrier of regional identity. This paper traces the three major developmental stages of Zhushan's Orchid Culture, highlighting its transformation—driven by local brand creation and research associations—from "selling orchids" to "selling culture." Employing multidisciplinary perspectives from education and sociology, the paper analyzes the value of Orchid Culture education in shaping individual cognition, cultivating values, and constructing social moral consensus. It proposes that by implementing distinctive cultural education programs and strengthening citizens' cultural identity, Zhoushan can promote its Orchid Culture, thereby forging the cultural identity of the "Orchid Capital of China". This approach offers pathways to enhance local cultural soft power and bolster cultural confidence.