The Origin and Significance of Dragon Boat Race

The origin of dragon boat race is that after Qu Yuan died in the Miluo River, the people of Chu were so sad that they flocked to the Miluo River to pay homage to Qu Yuan. The fishermen rowed the boat, and they scrambled to salvage his real body back and forth on the river. Since then, every year on May 5th, there are dragon boat rowing activities to commemorate Qu Yuan. The significance of dragon boat rowing is to commemorate Qu Yuan.

First, in memory of Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan was a patriotic poet of Chu during the Warring States Period. After the capital of Chu was breached, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River and died on the fifth day of May. After the death of Qu Yuan, 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. They rushed to catch up with each other and disappeared at Dongting Lake. Since then, there have been activities of rowing dragon boats to commemorate Qu Yuan on May 5th every year. There is also a saying that in order to prevent fish from eating Qu Yuan's body, the fish in the river were dispersed by rowing dragon boats.

Second, expand information.

Before the dragon boat race, various sacrificial ceremonies and commemorative ceremonies will be held. Generally speaking, incense sticks are lit and paper money is burned, offering sacrifices for chicken, rice, meat, fruit, zongzi and so on. Nowadays, these superstitious ceremonies are rare, but in the past, when people sacrificed to the Dragon Palace, the atmosphere was very serious. They prayed for a bumper harvest in agriculture and good weather to express people's good wishes.