The Origin and Legends of Traditional Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is an ancient traditional festival that dates back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC) in China. The festival is celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar. There are various legends about the origin of this festival, with the most popular one being the tale of Qu Yuan.
**Qu Yuan and the Lament for the National Disgrace:**
Qu Yuan was a talented poet, diplomat, and nobleman of the state of Chu during the Warring States period. He was known for his loyalty and sincerity towards his country and its people. When his country was attacked by the Qin Dynasty and his proposals for reform were rejected by the king, he was exiled.
During his years in exile, Qu Yuan was deeply concerned about the decline of his state and the sufferings of the people. He expressed his despair in many poems, one of the most famous being "Li Sao," or "The Lament for the National Disgrace." He became increasingly despondent over the political situation and eventually drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BC, to protest the national betrayal and his own tragic fate.
**Memorial Activities and Dragon Boat Racing:**
After his death, the people of Chu felt deep sorrow for the noble poet. They threw rice dumplings into the river to keep fish from attacking his body and hold a farewell ceremony to express their respect and sorrow. Over time, this became a custom that spread throughout China, which is the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Another famous legend related to the Dragon Boat Festival is the tale of Empress Mother (Mother of the Western South) and her son. Empress Mother found her son's body after he drowned, but was unable to recover his body. She tried various methods to keep his spirit from being eaten by fish, including scaring them away with loud noises and driving them off with boats.
The Dragon Boat Racing became a key part of the festival as people raced their dragon-shaped boats in an effort to scare away fish from the poet's body. It was believed that the dragon boats would scare away the fish and the spirit of Qu Yuan, as well as bring prosperity to the community.
Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is a time for people to celebrate their cultural heritage and remember the spirit of Qu Yuan. In addition to dragon boat races, other traditional activities include making and eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), hanging calamus leaves to ward off evil spirits, and dyeing eggs in natural dyes.
In summary, the traditional Dragon Boat Festival originated from the tragic tale of Qu Yuan, a loyal poet who drowned himself in despair. The festival now serves as a time to remember the poet's loyalty, bravery, and spirit, as well as to celebrate the rich culture and heritage of China.
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