Here are some English descriptions of the origins and legends of the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival), also known as the Duanwu Festival's origin and legends:
**Origins of the Dragon Boat Festival:**
1. **纪念屈原:** The most popular legend is that the festival was established to commemorate Qu Yuan, a famous statesman and poet from the Warring States period of China. He drowned himself in the Miluo River after witnessing the fall of the Chu state. People raced dragon boats to save him and threw rice dumplings into the river to feed the fish, so they would not eat Qu Yuan's body.
2. **驱邪避疫:** Another belief is that the festival originated from an ancient practice of驱邪避疫 (driving away evil spirits and preventing diseases). People believed that dragon boats, with their dragon motifs, could scare away evil spirits, and the activities of the festival would ensure a healthy and prosperous year.
3. **纪念伍子胥:** In some regions, the festival is also associated with Wu Zixu, a loyal general and statesman of the State of Wu. After Wu Zixu was betrayed and executed, his body was thrown into the river, and the people honored him with dragon boat races and food offerings.
**Legends and Stories of the Dragon Boat Festival:**
1. **Qu Yuan's Suicide:** According to the story, Qu Yuan was a highly respected statesman who was exiled after opposing the corrupt ruler of the Chu state. Devastated by the fall of his country, Qu Yuan drowned himself on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. His death is mourned by the people, who engage in dragon boat races and eat rice dumplings in his honor.
2. **Dragon Boat Races:** The dragon boat races are believed to have originated from the efforts of the local people to save Qu Yuan. They raced in boats shaped like dragons, symbolizing the mythical creature, and beat drums and chanted to drive away evil spirits.
3. **Eating Rice Dumplings:** Rice dumplings, also known as zongzi, are a traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival. They are said to have been thrown into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body. The dumplings can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients, wrapped in bamboo leaves, and boiled.
4. **Siting in the Middle of the River:** The custom of sitting in the middle of the river on dragon boats has also been associated with the festival, possibly as a way to honor Qu Yuan's journey to the middle of the Miluo River.
These stories and practices have been passed down through generations, making the Dragon Boat Festival a significant cultural and historical event in China.
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