| The Story of Dragon Boat Festival | ||||||
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most ancient festivals, not only in China but also throughout the world, with a history of more than 2000 years. Almost every Chinese know somestories about Dragon Boat Festival, which shows that this traditional festival had firmly rooted in people’s mind.There are numerous versions of the festival’s origin, among which three legends are the most widely circulated.
Legend No.1: Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in memory of Qu Yuan, a famous patriotic poet.
This is the best known legend in China. According to history record, Qu Yuan（屈原） was an official of the Chu State. Being the most talented poet of his time, Qu Yuan left us "Lisao, Suffering Throes" ,the most beautiful poem of all time. He dedicated his whole life in helping the king to build his motherland stronger, but the king believed in slanders and punish Qu Yuan severely. On 278 BC, the Chu State was invaded by another state, which was excruiciating to Qu Yuan. Though heartbroken to see his country being intruded, Qu Yuan never abandoned his faith and country. On May 5th(in Chinese lunar calendar), after writing down his last poem, Qu Yuan drowned himself in Miluo River(a branch of Yangtze River) as a gesture of dying along with his motherland. After his tragic death, the Chu State was shadowed with grief. The fishmen rowed along the river to find his body, while one of them took out some cooked rice ball, throwing them into the water. He explained that as long as the fish were fed, they would not bite Mr. Qu's body. People in the area all followed this example. Gradually rowing develped into dragon boat racing and rice balls became tzung tzu(or zongzi,glutinous rice wrapped in a pyramid shape using bamboo or reed leaves) and passed down from generation to generation as a Chinese tradition.
Legend No.2: Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in memory of Wu Zixu.
In Jiangsu and Zhejiang, this legend is quite popular. Wu Zixu（伍子胥）, just like Qu Yuan, was from the Chu State 2000 years ago. His father was once the royal tutor but the king misled the king, misled by false reports of rebellion plots, ordered the execution of him and Wu Zixu's older brother. Struck by sorrow, Wu later moved to another rising state----Wu（吴国）to help them conquer Chu State for revenge. His assistance laid the cornerstone of the accomplishment achived by Wu State, yet again he was entrapped by bad guys then forced to commit suicide on May, 5th. He died with sorrow and anguish, and the locals sympathize with him. A series of activities were held to commemorate this tragic figure.
Legend No.3: Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in memory of a filial dutiful daughter----Cao E
According to legend, Cao E, from Zhejiang, lived in Eastern Han Dynasty(23-220 A.D.). Her father drowned in the river and his body could not be found for days, while Cao E was only 14 years old, she was so connected with her father. She believed that it was her duty to find his body and give him a decent funeral. She walked along the bank day and night, seeking and crying her heart out. 17 days later, on May 5 th, she jumped into the water too and miraculously came back to life with her father's body in her arms. People all said that the heaven was moved by her filial affection. To salute her, people built up temples for her, and celebrated Dragon Boat Festival ever after.
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Dragon Boat Festival is called Duan Wu Jie in Chinese. Jie means festival. The festival is celebrated on the 5th of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar............
The most popular theory of the origin of the festival is that it was derived from the activities of commemorating a great patriot poet, Qu Yuan. The story about Qu Yuan has been deeply rooted in Chinese culture and this festival, so it is definitely a very important factor for the origin of the festival.
The most popular theory of the origin of the festival is that it was derived from the activities of commemorating a great patriot poet, Qu Yuan. The story about Qu Yuan has been deeply rooted in Chinese culture and this festival, so it is definitely a very important factor for the origin of the festival.
But since some of the well-known traditions of the festival already existed even before Qu Yuan, other origins of the festival were also suggested. Wen Yiduo suggested that the festival may be associated with dragon closely because two of the most important activities of the festival, dragon boat racing and eating zongzi, are related to dragon. Another view is that the festival is originated from the taboo of evil days. The fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar is traditionally considered an evil month and the 5th of the month is particularly a bad day, so a lot of taboo had been developed.
Most likely, the festival was gradually derived from all of the suggestions and the story of Qu Yuan is certainly the driving power to make it a great festival today.
Like other Chinese festivals, there is also a legend behind the festival. Qu Yuan served in the court of Emperor Huai during the Warring States (475 - 221 BC). He was a wise and erudite man. His ability and fight against corruption antagonized other court officials. They exerted their evil influence on the Emperor, so the Emperor gradually dismissed Qu Yuan and eventually exiled him. During his exile, Qu Yuan did not give up. He traveled extensively, taught and wrote about his ideas. His works, the Lament (Li Sao), the Nine Chapters (Jiu Zhang), and Wen tian, are masterpieces and invaluable for studying ancient Chinese culture. He saw the gradual decline of his mother country, the Chu State. And when he heard that the Chu State was defeated by the strong Qin State, he was so despaired that he ended his life by flinging himself into the Miluo River.
Legend says after people heard he drowned, they were greatly dismayed. Fishermen raced to the spot in their boats to search for his body. Unable to find his body, people threw zongzi, eggs and other food into the river to feed fish, so hoped to salvage his body. Since then, people started to commemorate Qu Yuan through dragon boat races, eating zongzi and other activities, on the anniversary of his death, the 5th of the fifth month.
Zongzi is the most popular food for the festival. Zongzi is a special kind of dumpling. It is usually made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. Fresh bamboo leaves are the best for the wrapping since the taste and smell of the fresh bamboo leaves is part of zongzi. Unfortunately fresh bamboo leaves are hard to find.
Today you may see zongzi in different shapes and with a variety of fillings. The most popular shapes are triangular and pyramidal. The fillings include dates, meat, yolk of egg, etc. The most popular fillings are dates. The festival is closely associated with zongzi and dragon boat races. More importantly this is also a national patriot festival through commemorating the great patriot poet, Qu Yuan. People are reminded that the importance of loyalty and commitment to the community in the festival.
起源
端午節在中國由來已久，可上溯至春秋時代。關於華人過端午節的起源，較為普遍的說法是紀念屈原，但不少習俗在屈原之前已經存在。而端午節的習俗中又有惡日禁忌、龍圖騰等相關內容，因此歷代流傳的端午習俗可能是多種起源互相融合而成。
端午節不少習俗都有禳毒驅疫的意義，是始於對「惡日」的禁忌。傳統上認為時值仲夏、疫厲流行的五月是「惡月」，人們在五月為了預防疫病，自上古即有不少清潔禳毒的措施。最遲於春秋時代成書的《夏小正》記載，上古之時人們於五月已有儲存蘭草作沐浴之用以及採穀物煮豆湯消暑的習俗。而這期間的活動也以安息靜養為主，《禮記·月令》就記載當時提倡在五月齋戒節欲。而「惡月」禁忌也特別多，如漢代應劭所著的《風俗通》就記載當時一些俗諺如「五月到官，至免不遷」、「五月蓋屋，令人頭禿」等反映了當時的禁忌。而據南朝蕭梁時期宗懍所著、介紹中國古代荊楚地區的歲時節令、風物故事的文集《荊楚歲時記》所載，五月在當時俗稱「惡日」，禁忌繁多，忌曬晾床、草蓆等用品和忌蓋屋，。而五月五日更是惡日之最，是一年中最不吉利的日子，因此要避邪。
除了驅瘟去疫之外，華人端午節不少習俗都與龍有關，聞一多《神話與詩》的《端午考》指出這些可能是迎濤神祭圖騰的習俗，並認為端午節最初只是長江下游吳越人的節日。隋代杜台卿《玉燭寶典》中提到端午習俗，就指出競渡源自南方，又引吳地樂府詩《五月歌》描述五月吃粽子是吳地習俗，認為端午源於南方，後來才流傳至其他地區。而一些主要習俗如劃龍舟和吃粽子也與龍圖騰信仰有關。相傳古代吳越人認為自己是龍的傳人，每年五月初五舉行祭圖騰儀式，以求來年風調雨順、大豐收。他們把食物裹在樹葉或裝在竹筒中，投到江裏去。後來他們還有在這天划著獨木舟拜訪親朋好友的做法。高興時就即興舉行獨木舟賽，慢慢演變成今天過端午節這種習俗。而傳統上五方都有各自代表的龍，也對應五行，所以「五」這個數字也是代表龍，端午常見的五色絲也是代表五方的龍。
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