If you are someone who likes exploring different cultures and their festivals, then the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the traditional Chinese festivals, will surely fascinate you. The Dragon Boat Festival or Duanwu is a traditional Chinese event that takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar.
The Story Behind The Dragon Boat Festival
The theory about the Dragon Boat Festival's origins dates back to before the Qin Dynasty. The legend of the Dragon Boat Festival claims the story of a brilliant patriotic poet named Qu Yuan and his sacrifice for his country. During the Warring States Period (an ancient Chinese era characterized by warfare), he was born into the nobility of Chu State. Qu Yuan devoted his entire life to assisting the King in making the Chu stronger, and as a result, he rose to become Chu's No. 1 minister at the time.
One of his most important ideas was to unify the equally powerful Qi State to combat the most powerful Qin State at the time. However, a group of nobles who were envious of Qu Yuan frequently disparaged him in front of the King. Qu Yuan was eventually forced out of the capital and exiled to the countryside. During his exile, he composed many poems to express his love for his homeland, some of which are still popular in China.
Meanwhile, the Qin army smashed past the gates of Chu's capital in 278 B.C. Qu Yuan was both heartbroken and outraged after hearing it. He plunged himself into the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month and died for his country.
The inhabitants of Chu wept and went to the Miluo River after hearing the tragic news. Fishermen rowed their boats up the river to recover his body. They dropped rice balls, eggs, and other food in the river, hoping that the fish, shrimp, and crabs would eat them and not bite Qu Yuan's body.
An old physician even poured realgar wine into the river to poison the sea monsters in an attempt to protect Qu Yuan. No matter what, Qu Yuan's body was not discovered. People swung their boats above the river to convey their sympathies. It evolved into dragon boat racing later on. People came up with the notion of wrapping rice in reed leaves and stringing them together with colored thread, which became “Zongzi”.
The Celebration
The Dragon Boat Festival is a raucous and enjoyable celebration. Every year on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, there is a tradition of dragon boat racing, zongzi eating, and frequent wine drinking. People gather outside on the banks of rivers and lakes to enjoy the nice weather while watching traditional dragon boat races in most parts of China at this time of year.
Delicious Zongzi
As mentioned, the Dragon Boat Festival, like almost every other Chinese occasion, has zongzi as the specific meal or food associated with it. Zongzi is made with glutinous rice that is shaped into a pyramid-shaped dumpling loaded with a variety of sweet or salty fillings. Sweet red bean paste, or jujube are common fillings for sweet zongzi. Salted egg yolks, pork, or mushrooms can be filled into salty zongzi. The dumplings are steamed or boiled after being wrapped in reed leaves and fastened with a string.
People eat zongzi at the Dragon Boat Festival, according to mythology, to honor the poet Qu Yuan. This is because zongzi are supposed to mimic the rice dumplings villagers threw into the lake after his suicide to keep the fish from eating his body.
The Dragon Boat Racing
The tradition of racing dragon boats (sài lóng zhōu) is now the most well-known part of the Dragon Boat Festival. Qu Yuan's suicide story is frequently used and the racing dragon boats are supposed to resemble the acts of the villagers who attempted to save poet Qu Yuan by rowing their boats into the river.
However, it is also said that Qu Yuan's suicide is simply a theory, and the racing tradition has a 2,000-year history. Some experts believe it originated as a form of worship for the Dragon God. The tradition is supposed to have started in Guangdong Province in southern China.
Originally, teak was used to make dragon boats. Most modern dragon boats nowadays are composed of materials like fiberglass. During races, the dragon heads and tails are painted on the boats.
Dragon boat racing came up with a lot of rules and regulations over the years. This sport recently gained appeal with people all over the world, especially in the US, after being divorced from most of its cultural connotations with the traditional folk celebration.
Although boat and crew sizes vary, typical crews consist of 20 paddlers sitting parallel. A drummer can also be seen sitting at the bow of the boat, facing the paddlers, as well. The drummer beats a drum rhythmically to lead the paddlers during the race. A steerer also sits at the backside of the boat helping to steer.
Not Just The Dragon Boat Festival, There’s More!
If you are just fascinated by this, you are in for a bigger surprise than you considered. The Dragon Boat Festival is just one of the many beautiful and traditional festivals of Chinese culture. The traditions and the mythology go beyond this. With every festival having its origin and story and the different ways it is celebrated, the main activity of the festival and the special delicacy to enjoy are one of the most beautiful things about Chinese culture.
And one of the best ways to get more connected to these festivals and get closer to culture is by learning their language.
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