**Origins and Legends of the Dragon Boat Festival**
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, typically around late May or early June. Here are some of the origins and legends associated with this festival:
**Origins:**
1. **纪念屈原 (Qu Yuan):** The most popular legend is that the festival commemorates the death of the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a nobleman and a statesman who served as a minister in the state of Chu during the Warring States period. He was known for his loyalty and dedication to his country. However, he was betrayed and exiled after the king of Chu, his patron, was overthrown. In despair over the decline of his country, Qu Yuan jumped into the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, in 278 BC.
2. **驱邪避疫:** The Dragon Boat Festival is also believed to be a time to ward off evil spirits and diseases. In ancient China, people thought that evil spirits were more active during this period, and therefore, they would perform various rituals to protect themselves and their loved ones.
**Legends:**
1. **屈原投江传说:** According to this legend, when people heard about Qu Yuan's ***, they rushed out in boats to search for his body. They threw rice dumplings (zongzi) into the river to prevent fish from eating the body. To honor Qu Yuan, they raced their boats and beat drums to scare away the fish and evil spirits.
2. **龙舟竞渡:** The dragon boat races are a major part of the festival. It is believed that the races began as a way to honor Qu Yuan by commemorating the search for his body. The dragon-shaped boats represent the dragon, which is a symbol of power and wisdom in Chinese culture. The races are said to mimic the efforts of the people who searched for Qu Yuan's body.
3. **艾草和雄黄酒:** Another tradition is to hang mugwort and calamus in front doors and drink realgar wine. These practices are thought to have protective properties against evil spirits and diseases.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a time of great cultural significance and is celebrated not only in China but also in other Asian countries with Chinese communities, such as Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.
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