This study looks at the issue of performance and power in the festivals from the perspectives of cultural anthropology and cultural studies, taking as an example the Lantern Festival during the Song dynasty. Festivals provide the official culture and folk culture with a stage for performance. The official culture tries to establish and strengthen its authoritative position through performance, whereas folk culture tries to maintain its belief system through performance so as to neutralize the cultural authority of the official. (Heng-Li Peng)