There is a custom of eating zongzi and rowing dragon boats on the Dragon Boat Festival. Do you know who the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate?

Speaking of who the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate, it is estimated that 80% people will think of Qu Yuan. In fact, there are many opinions about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival, not only to commemorate Qu Yuan, but also to commemorate Wu Zixu, the filial daughter Cao E, Jiezitui and other figures.

First, in memory of Qu Yuan.

According to the historian Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng, Qu Yuan was a minister of Chu Huaiwang in the Spring and Autumn Period. He advocated the use of talents, empowerment, and prosperity, and advocated joint resistance to Qin, which was strongly opposed by others. Qu Yuan was forced to leave his post, was driven out of the capital and exiled to the Yuan and Xiang river basins. During his exile, he wrote immortal poems such as Li Sao, Tian Wen and Tian Wen, which have a unique style and far-reaching influence (therefore, the Dragon Boat Festival is also called the Poet's Day). In 278 BC, Qin Jun conquered Kyoto of Chu. Seeing that his motherland was invaded, Qu Yuan was heartbroken, but he was always reluctant to give up his motherland. On May 5th, after writing his masterpiece Huai Sha, he died in Miluo River and wrote a magnificent patriotic movement with his own life.

Legend has it that after Qu Yuan's death, the people of Chu were so sad that they flocked to the Miluo River to pay homage to Qu Yuan. The fisherman paddled the boat and fished for his real body back and forth on the river. A fisherman took out rice balls, eggs and other foods prepared for Qu Yuan and threw them into the river, saying that ichthyosaurs, shrimps and crabs were full and would not bite the doctor. People followed suit after seeing it. An old doctor took an altar of realgar wine and poured it into the river, saying that he would stun the dragon water beast with medicine so as not to hurt Qu Da. Later, people were afraid that the rice balls would be eaten by dragons, so they came up with the idea of wrapping the leaves of Toosendan Fructus with colored silk and developing them into brown seeds.

After that, on the fifth day of May every year, there is the custom of dragon boat racing, eating zongzi and drinking realgar wine. In memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.

Second, in memory of Wu Zixu

The second legend of the Dragon Boat Festival, which is widely circulated in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, commemorates Wu Zixu in the Spring and Autumn Period (770- 476 BC). Wu Zixu, a famous Chu national, and his father and brother were all killed by the King of Chu. Later, Zixu abandoned the dark and went to Wu to help Wu to attack Chu, and entered the capital city of Chu in the Five Wars. At that time, King Chu Ping was already dead. Zixu dug a grave and whipped 300 bodies to avenge his father's murder. After the death of He Lu, the king of Wu, his son Fu Cha succeeded to the throne. Wu Jun's morale was high and he was defeated by Yue. Gou Jian, the King of Yue, made peace, and Fu Cha agreed.

Zi Xu suggested the complete elimination of Yue, but Fu Cha didn't listen. Wu was massacred and bought by the state of Yue. He was framed by slanderers. Fu Cha believed him and gave him a sword. Zi Xu died. Zixu, a loyal minister, feels like death. Before he died, he said to his neighbors, "After I die, I will gouge out my eyes and hang them on the east gate of Jason Wu, watching the Vietnamese army enter the city and destroy Wu." Then he killed himself. Fu Cha was furious after hearing this. On May 5th, he wrapped Zixu's body in leather and threw it into the river. Therefore, it is said that the Dragon Boat Festival is also a day to commemorate Wu Zixu.

Third, in memory of the filial daughter Cao E.

The third legend of Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate the filial daughter Cao E who saved her drowning father in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 23-220). Cao E was a native of Shangyu in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Her father drowned in the river and didn't see her body for several days. At that time, Cao E, the filial daughter, was only fourteen years old, crying day and night by the river. 17 days later, he also threw himself into the river on May 5, and fished out his father's body five days later. This was passed down as a myth, and then to the governor of the county government, who made it a monument for disciple Han Danchun to make a eulogy.

The tomb of the filial daughter is in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province today, and there is a monument made by Jin. Later, in order to commemorate Cao E's filial piety, Cao E Temple was built where Cao E threw himself into the river. The village where she lived was renamed Cao E Town, and the place where Cao E died was named Cao E River.

In order to commemorate Cao E's filial piety to his father, later generations commemorate Cao E on this day, but this is also a minority view.

Fourth, commemorative meson push

Jin Wengong minister Jie Zitui traveled around the world with Jin Wengong in his early years 19. On the way to escape, Jin Wengong was starving, so meson pushed off the meat on his leg and cooked the broth for Jin Wengong, saving Jin Wengong's life. Jin Wengong later returned to China to become the monarch of the State of Jin and rewarded him according to his achievements. Finally, he forgot the meson push. Others said that meson refused to reward him and took his mother to Mianshan for seclusion.

Jin Wengong took people to ask meson to push out of the mountain to be an official, but it was not easy to find two people in such a big mountain. So his men suggested letting Yamakaji go, because meson tui's mother is filial, and he will definitely come out with his mother. However, meson tui's intention of seclusion has been decided, and he would rather burn with his mother than come out. Jin Wengong looked at the body of meson push, very sad. He ordered to build a shrine for mesons in Mianshan, so that people around him could worship every year, and designated the day of his death as the Cold Food Festival. But there is also a saying that the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates meson push.

In fact, no matter what the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival is, who the Dragon Boat Festival worships. This festival celebrates the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation. Worrying about the country and the people, integrity, hard work, respect for parents and filial piety, and good advice, every spirit of the Dragon Boat Festival deserves the praise and recognition of the Chinese people.