A Romantic Heartbreaking Tale of a Poet from ancient China and a tradition over 2,000 years old. Also known as Double Fifth Festival.
How do traditions change and evolve over time. Not even the most famous western traditions are practiced the same as they were when they first originated.
”Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BC) of the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States period of the Zhou Dynasty. A cadet member of the Chu royal house, Qu served in high offices. However, when the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance and even accused of treason. During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of poetry. Twenty-eight years later, Qin captured Ying, the Chu capital. In despair, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River.”
”It is said that the local people, who admired him, raced out in their boats to save him or at least retrieve his body. This is said to have been the origin of dragon boat races. When his body could not be found, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the river so that the fish would eat them instead of Qu Yuan's body. This is said to be the origin of zongzi.”
Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Boat_Festival
Let’s learn Chinese
Easy Right?
It's a 3 days off work in China. So I'm guessing it's going to be a BBQ by the Seaside kind of weekend. Super sunny day and blue skies.
The people never forgot his story he was just too famous and respected. China wasn’t even China then, at least not what it is today. During the ”The Warring States period” China was not a unified country. That was still a few hundred years away with the Qin dynasty. The movie Hero is one of the best depictions of its unification in Chinese history at this time.
The warring states period saw countries battle for supreme dominance. In fighting, back stabbing, treason, broken hearts and lost promises were a common thing as the states rulers often changed hands to the despair of the commoners.
Well, the mourning is long over and the modern traditions include racing boats that look like Dragons, hence the name. I know you probably thought it was dragons on boats racing but that’s just a common misconception.
The designs and artwork have become its own industry these days and companies have sprouted up specializing in Dragon Boats.
The carried down tradition of eating Zong Zi. Personally I don't really like it. I have a tried few different flavours and have to find one I enjoy. lol. I do love Japanese sticky rice balls with salmon. I miss those.
Unfortunately Dalian doesn't celebrate with Dragon Boat races, or at least I couldn't find where one was happening. Most of the locals just relax, go shopping, visit friends and in this case write a Steemit post before heading out for the afternoon.
Image Credits
http://www.absolutechinatours.com/china-travel/dragon-boat-festival.html
http://www.creativechinese.com/category/dragon-boat-festival/
http://dragonboatpaddlers.net/
http://give.cedars.ca/site/TR?fr_id=1120&pg=entry&s_locale=en_CA
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/ca/see-do/events-festivals/highlight-events/dragon-boat-carnival.jsp