What is the history of Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival. It has a history of more than 2,000 years, and is believed to have originated during the Warring States period. There are a number of origin stories related to the Dragon Boat Festival, among which the following 3 legends are the most widely circulated.
What is the legend of Dragon Boat Festival?
Legend has it that the Dragon Boat Festival's origin roots back to a patriotic Chinese poet called Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a respected and faithful minister who had brought peace and prosperity in the state served. Unfortunately his good noble deeds had been seen as an obstacle for those were jealous and corrupted.
What is the traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival?
Top 9 Food for Dragon Boat Festival
- Zongzi. The most important traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival is zongzi. ...
- Jiandui - Fried Sesame Ball. Jiandui, a traditional and popular Chinese classic dessert, is a type of fried Chinese pastry made from wheat and glutinous rice flour, with sesame ...
- Tea Eggs. ...
- Thin Pancakes. ...
- Realgar Wine. ...
- Salted Duck Eggs. ...
- Eel. ...
- Dagao - Glutinous Rice Cake. ...
What is the meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival?
The renowned Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Tuen Ng, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and minister known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry and who eventually became a national hero.
When did the Dragon Boat Festival originate?
Many believe that the Dragon Boat Festival originated in ancient China based on the suicide of the poet and statesman of the Chu kingdom, Qu Yuan in 278 BCE. The festival commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan, who was a loyal minister of the King of Chu in the third century BCE.
How old is the Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival. It has a history of more than 2,000 years, and is believed to have originated during the Warring States period.
Why is it called a dragon boat?
The first people to participate were superstitious Chinese villagers who celebrated the 5th day of the 5th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Dragon boating was held to avert misfortune and encourage rains for prosperity. The main object of their worship was the dragon, hence the name 'dragon boat racing'.
Why is it called Dragon Boat Festival?
It is called Dragon Boat Festival, or Longzhou Jie (龙舟节) in Chinese, because of its close association with dragon boats. Chinese people attach great cultural significance to dragons. The two main activities during the festival are eating zongzi (rice dumplings) and boat races, and both are related to dragons.
How long ago did Dragon Boat Festival become a tradition in China?
2500 years agoDragon boat racing has a rich history of ancient ceremonial and ritualistic traditions, which originated in southern central China more than 2500 years ago. The legend starts with the story of Qu Yuan, who was a minister in one of the Warring State governments, Chu.
How long does the Dragon Boat Festival last in China?
3 daysChinese Dragon Boat Festival is on 5th day of the 5th lunar month. In Gregorian calendar, it varies every year, generally falling in June and in a very few years in late May. The dragon boat holiday is 3 days long. In 2022, the festival date is June 3 and the holiday lasts from June 3 to 5.
How often is Dragon Boat Festival celebrated?
One of the oldest traditional festivals in the world, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month every year.
Is dragon boat racing only in China?
Now dragon boat racing is an international event. In addition to Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, this sport is also popular in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Singapore. Some dragon boat races aren't held around the Dragon Boat Festival.
Where did the dragon boat festival originate?
As a traditional festival originated from south China, the Dragon Boat Festival history in China is over 2,000 years long. People from different regions hold various ideas on the festival's origin and history, and the most popular saying is the legend associated with the great poet Qu Yuan in Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC).
Why do we celebrate Dragon Boat Festival?
Why do we celebrate Dragon Boat Festival at the begining? Dragon, an imaginary creature, was always a totem for ancient China, and people in old Wuyue area (present Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces in southeast China) would worship the totem on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in Prehistorical Times (1.7 million years ago - the 21st century BC). People made boats with dragon heads and tails, and held entertainment games. At that time, the image of dragon was closely associated with the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, on which today's Dragon Boat Festival falls. This is currently found the earliest Duanwu Festivla history.
Why did Cao E build a temple?
It was believed that Cao E's filial heart moved the God's will, so even she died, she could still find her father's body. People built a temple in memory of her filial piety, and the fifth day of the fifth lunar month was also used to mark her greatness.
How did Qu Yuan die?
Therefore, he committed suicide by drowning in Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
Why did Cao E go to the river?
Till the sunset, her father still didn't return. Cao E headed to the river bund to search for her father for a long time, but she failed to discover anything.
What was the evil day before the warring states?
An Evil Day before Warring States Period (Before 476 BC ) Before Warring States Period in ancient Chinese history, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month was widely regarded as an evil day, which may bring diseases and disasters. On that day, all the poisonous animals and insects would come out, such as snakes, scorpions and centipedes.
Why do people hang mugwort leaves on door frames?
Hence, people hang calamus and mugwort leaves on door frames to dispel the evil spirits, and take herb water bath to prevent against skin disease.
What is a Jiandui cake?
Jiandui (Fried Cake) A fried round cake made of wheat and rice flour , more commonly found in the Fujian Province. People used to believe that eating Jiandui would help to mend the sky during the rainy season by filling up holes and stop the rain from continuing.
What is a Wenzhou pancake?
Made from white wheat flour, this pancake is fried in a frying pan so that it becomes very thin and translucent – eaten in the Wenzhou area. It is usually filled with green beans, leek, shredded meat and mushrooms and eaten as a wrap.
What is the dragon boat festival?
It commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and minister known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry and who eventually became a national hero.
Why did Qu Yuan write?
Though his actions led to his exile, he wrote in order to show his love for the country. Legend has it that Qu Yuan felt such remorse after the capture of his country’s capital that, after finishing his final poem, ...
Why do people wear incense bags?
Wearing Incense Bags. In the past, many diseases and plagues were said to permeate the lands during the same time of year as the festival, and so people would make incense bags to hang around their necks. They believed this would not only protect them from the diseases but from evil spirits too.
Why are eggs dyed red?
The eggs are boiled with tea, and the shells of the egg are then dyed red, placed into colorful bags and hung around children’s necks to give them good luck.
What are the fillings for Zongzi?
There are also a number of different fillings available, such as egg yolk, lotus seeds, ham, red bean paste, rose, melon, date, chestnut and pork. Some places even make a mixed sweet and savory filling for the zongzi. Some other food items throughout the different regions include:
Why were Zongzi thrown into the river?
As highlighted above, zongzi are believed to have originated as rice dumplings desperately thrown into the Miluo River to prevent fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body. Whether or not this is true, classic Chinese annals and compilations from the Han Dynasty onwards contain numerous mentions of the food, although it is often referred with alternate names.
What is Duan Wu Jie's interest?
His interests include history, traveling, and mythology. Everything that you’d need to know about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. The most important summer festival for the Chinese, the Dragon Boat Festival, or Duan Wu Jie (端午节), continues to be celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide each year.
How did Xu Xian die?
Believing that the wine would do his wife no harm, as it was commonly drunk, Xu Xian agreed and did as told. As Fa Hai predicted, Madam White was able to resist the wine but for a few hours and soon reverted to her serpentine form. The horrific spectacle also resulted in Xu Xian dying from shock. The quest to revive her husband then set in motion the next story arc of the legend.
What does "duan wu jie" mean?
1. “Duan Wu Jie” Means the Festival of the Beginning of the Fifth Month. The Dragon Boat Festival has many Chinese names but is most commonly referred to as Duan Wu Jie. Chinese logograms-wise, duan (端) means “beginning,” while wu (午) means “noon.”. Combined together, the name could thus mean the “beginning of noon/summer.”.
Where did dragon boating originate?
Further to the origins debate mentioned above, dragon boating in its modern form did not originate from Duan Wu Jie. Instead, the sport began as an annual competition between contending villagers in Guangdong. Guangdong itself is located thousands of miles from the above-mentioned Zhejiang.
What is the meaning of Wu?
Furthermore, wu is a homonym for wu (五), the latter character meaning “five.” As the festival is always celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, historians believe the festival was originally called 端五 (same pronunciation). Over time, the name morphed into its modern form.
Why do people balance eggs at noon?
Doing so is believed to secure good fortune.
What are the other famous names of the Dragon Boat Festival?
Zhong Tian: middle of the sky, since the sun is located in the highest, most central position on this day
What are the ingredients in zongzi dumplings?
. Stuffing of Zongzi various too, beans, date, pork, ham, chestnut, yolk are all popular ingredients. .
How long has the Dragon Boat Festival been around?
It used to be considered quite lucky and unlucky in different places in China; It has been celebrated in China for at least 2500 years.
Why is Dragon Boat Festival considered unlucky?
Why Dragon Boat Festival considered unlucky in some places? Since the Warring States Period (403 BC — 221 BC), especially in northern China, the 5th of May had been considered unlucky. It is a cross point of Yin and Yang, and the beginning of the intense heat of summer.
When was the Dragon Boat Festival first celebrated?
Memorize Wu Zixu (about 559 BC — 484 BC), best friend of Sun Tzu, and a loyal official that was set up and executed by his King. The original date of the Dragon Boat Festival, though in May, varied in history; in the Han Dynasty (202 BC — 220 AD), it was regulated to celebrate on the 5th of May.
Why do people wear five colors?
Based on the Five Elements Theory, people make five colors (red, white, black, yellow, and green) strings and wear them on the wrist, ankle or arm, to prevent diseases and bad luck, and pray for blessings. . The Five Color String could not be taken off, until the first rain after the Dragon Boat Festival.
What shape is Zongzi?
Zongzi's shape could be a triangle, regular quadrangle, sharp triangle , square, etc.; a regular triangle is the most popular type now.
What to eat during Dragon Boat Festival?
The most traditional food related to the Dragon Boat Festival is the rice dumpling known as zongzi. The dumpling starts with sticky rice that is soaked in alkaline water. The sticky rice is wrapped in bamboo leaves in a triangular shape, filled with precooked ingredients, tied with string, and boiled in water. The common fillings for zongzi are egg yolk, pork, lotus seeds, green bean paste, peanuts, and other nuts.
What is the dragon boat race and why is it so popular?
The dragon boat race is the most exciting , colorful event during the Tuen Ng Festival. The famous dragon boat is a long, narrow boat painted with a Chinese dragon head and tail. The number of paddlers can stretch from 10 to 50, with the typical team consisting of 22 people. Along with the paddlers, there is also the leader at the bow beating the timekeeping drum and a steerer at the rear.
Where can I watch the races this year?
Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships at Stanley Main Beach, June 14, 8:00am – 4:00pm.
What happened to Wu Zixu?
But when the king’s successor was bribed by an opposing state’s official (a state that Wu had advised the successor to target), Wu Zixu was commanded to commit suicide. Wu’s body was thrown into a river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and locals held dragon boat races to show solidarity with him.
Why did the villagers throw rice into the water?
They also threw lumps of rice into the water to distract fish from eating the body.
What happened to Qu Yuan when the Chu state fell?
When the Chu state eventually fell to the Qin state, the story states that Qu Yuan was so devastated that he wrote one final poem and then drowned himself in a river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The legend goes on to say that sympathetic villagers rowed onto the river to retrieve his body.
Why do people wear bags around their neck?
Again, the effects are twofold: these bags are worn around the neck or tied to the front of clothing to protect the individual from evil spirits and to deter insects carrying infectious diseases; Standing an egg on its end for a day, which is believed to bring prosperity for the year.
Why Join?
There are so many reasons to enter a team in the Lake Hernando Dragon Boat Festival including team building, fundraising, camaraderie and good ‘ole fun! But did you also know that Club and Community teams are offered an amazingly low rate of only $750 for a 20 person team? Or you can form a 10-person team to race in our Mini Dragon Boats for only $450!
How many paddlers are needed for a 20 person team?
Your team’s registration includes 1 practice, 2 if you register both a 20-person and a 10-person team. All of the necessary equipment will be supplied to your team, including a boat, life vests, paddles and a steersperson / coach. Your team must supply the paddlers (at least 10 paddlers must be women) and the drummer (drummer need not be present at the practice).
How much discount is there for Dragon Boat Race?
Mention the Dragon Boat Race Event to receive a 15% discount off rate, based on availability. Resort Fee and Taxes apply.
How to form a dragon boat team?
Forming a dragon boat team is easy! Included in your team registration is a practice session where we will show you how to paddle and race. Practice sessions and race day include all of the necessary equipment such as a boat, paddles, life-vests, a drum and a steersperson/coach. Find yourself either 10 or 20 co-workers, friends and/or family members to join you in this exciting event!
What is the Beast of the Southeast?
Now known as “The Beast of the Southeast”, this event has become one of the largest International Dragon Boat Festivals in the Southeast, bringing teams and spectators in from all around Florida and the entire Southeast region.
What fruit is grown at Ferris Groves?
Over the years, the fruit grown at Ferris Groves has expanded to include Navel and Valencia oranges, Ruby Red grapefruit and Fall Glow tangerines and more.
What is an event operator?
The Event Operator reserves the right to seek legal action against a team or crew member for damages caused by failing to follow the Rules and Regulations or negligent or wrongful acts or omissions.
Overview
History
The fifth lunar month is considered an unlucky month. People believed that natural disasters and illnesses are common in the fifth month. To get rid of the misfortune, people would put calamus, Artemisia, pomegranate flowers, Chinese ixora and garlic above the doors on the fifth day of the fifth month. Calamus is believed to be able to remove evil spirits because of its sword-like …
Names
The English language name for the holiday is Dragon Boat Festival, used as the official English translation of the holiday by the People's Republic of China. It is also referred to in some English sources as Double Fifth Festival which alludes to the date as in the original Chinese name.
Duanwu (Chinese: 端午; pinyin: duānwǔ), as the festival is called in Mandarin Chinese, literally means "starting/opening horse", i.e., the first "horse day" (according to the Chinese zodiac/Chines…
Public holiday
The festival was long marked as a cultural festival in China and is a public holiday in China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan (ROC). The People's Republic of China government established in 1949 did not initially recognize the Dragon Boat Festival as a public holiday but reintroduced it in 2008 alongside two other festivals in a bid to boost traditional culture.
Practices and activities
Three of the most widespread activities conducted during the Dragon Boat Festival are eating (and preparing) zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.
Dragon boat racing has a rich history of ancient ceremonial and ritualistic traditions, which originated in southern central China more than 2500 years ag…
Gallery
• Hari in Tomigusuku, Okinawa, Japan.
• Activities to avoid bad luck
• A bodice worn by kids with symbols of the Five Poisonous Insects on it to deter poisonous insects, and reptiles such as frogs, lizards, snakes.
See also
• Bon Om Touk
• Dano (Korean festival)
• Traditional Chinese holidays
External links
• Media related to Duanwu Festival at Wikimedia Commons