Why do we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?
6 min read
Asked by: David Walsh
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.
Why is the dragon festival celebrated?
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.
What does the dragon boat symbolize?
The Dragon Boat
Originally Dragon Boat was used for religious purposes as a way to appease the rain gods. Each boat has an ornately carved dragon’s head at the bow and a tail in the stern. The boat is painted with scales. The paddles symbolically represent the dragon’s claws, the drum represents the heart. .
Why is Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in Singapore?
Age-old tradition lives on in modern Singapore with the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday with apocryphal origins dating back to China’s Warring States era. Dragon boat races and dumplings—two of the most distinctive elements of the festival — have their roots in a story of patriotism and politics.
What is the Dragon Boat Festival and how is it celebrated?
The Dragon Boat Festival is a significant Chinese festival which is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Its origin was to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. This festival is one of the three major celebrated festivals in Taiwan, together with Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival.
What is the legend of the Dragon Boat Festival?
The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chu state official and poet who lived during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) before the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).
Why is it called dragon boating?
Dragon boat racing began in China more than 2000 years ago as a rite to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon. Races were held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar (the summer solstice).
What are main symbolic items for the Dragon Boat Festival ‘?
7 symbols of Dragon Boat Festival
- The Legend. …
- Eating Zongzi. …
- Balancing eggs. …
- Hanging auspicious leaves. …
- Wearing scented sachets. …
- Dragon boat race. …
- Hanging the image of Zhong Kui.
Where did the Dragon Boat Festival originate from?
southern China
Its origins can be traced to southern China, and festivities include boat races and eating rice dumplings. The festival had evolved from the practice of revering the river dragon, to the commemoration of Qu Yuan, a third-century poet and political figure of the state of Chu in ancient China.
Where did dragon boats originate?
southern central China
The use of dragon boats for racing is believed to have originated in southern central China more than 2500 years ago, in Dongting Lake and along the banks of the Chang Jiang (now called the Yangtze).
What is Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong?
The Dragon Boat Festival hosts exciting boat races that take place near Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. Colorful, dramatic, exciting and unforgettable, Dragon Boat Racing is celebrated annually on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month – sometimes referred to as ‘the double fifth’.
How do you say happy Dragon Boat Festival?
Well, the tradition is not to say happy Duanwu festival since it commemorates Qu Yuan’s death. Instead, you say 端午安康。
What countries celebrate Dragon Boat Festival?
China, as the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrate it at the largest scale with the most activities. Some other countries in Asia, like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia also celebrate it with some different features.
How do you write Dragon Boat Festival in Chinese?
The Dragon Boat Festival (simplified Chinese: 端午节; traditional Chinese: 端午節) is a traditional Chinese holiday which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or June in the Gregorian calendar.
Why do we eat dumplings on Dragon Boat Festival?
Zongzi and Dragon Boat Festival help transmit the reverence of dragons and the active yang energy associated with it to next generations. Eating Zongzi has become a symbolic act for Chinese people to express their homage of Qu Yuan’s patriotism, advocacy of tradition of filial piety, and admiration of dragon-worship.
What food do they eat at the Dragon Boat Festival?
zongzi
The traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival is zongzi. If you are of Cantonese descent, the pronunciation “joong” may be more familiar. They’re sometimes described as Chinese tamales. Instead of corn masa, they’re filled with sticky rice, and instead of corn husks, bamboo leaves/reed leaves are used.
Why did yuan drown himself?
In 278 BC, the Qin State conquered the capital of Chu. On hearing of the defeat, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, Qu Yuan in great despair committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (a branch of Yangtze River) as a gesture of dying along with his motherland.
What is zongzi called in English?
sticky rice dumplings
History. Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) are traditionally eaten during the Duanwu Festival (Double Fifth Festival) which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and commonly known as the “Dragon Boat Festival” in English.
Where is Dragon Boat Festival held Singapore?
Dragon boat racing is a traditional Chinese sport and has been held in Singapore since 1978 within Dragon Boat Festival in the Bedok Reservoir Park. Rowers disturb normally calm waters of the Bedok Reservoir every year.
Is Dragon Boat Festival a public holiday in China?
Each year, China has 7 public holidays enjoyed by all citizens: New Year, the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), the Qingming Festival, Labor Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.
What is the story of Dumpling Festival?
Striken with grief, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the famous Ni Lo River. Although the people rushed to the river to rescue their beloved minister, they were too late. Instead, they furiously threw packets of steamed rice wrapped in leaves to prevent the sea creatures from consuming Qu Yuan’s body.
Which day is dumpling day?
September 26
NATIONAL DUMPLING DAY – September 26 – National Day Calendar.
How long is a dragon boat race?
500 meters
A festival race is typically a sprint event of several hundred meters, with 500 meters being the most common. Races measuring 200, 1000, and 2000 meters are also standard distances in international competition.
How do you say Dumpling Festival in Chinese?
The Dumpling Festival (“Duan Wu Jie“) is a colorful festival celebrated by Chinese worldwide on the 5th day of the 5th month of lunar calendar. It is a yearly event and during this day, the Chinese will commonly feast on dumplings (which we called “zong zi” in Chinese).
