What's the point of dragon boat racing?

The significance of dragon boat race is to commemorate Qu Yuan.

1. According to historical records, the dragon boat race started in memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Besides commemorating Qu Yuan, it also embodies the spirit of patriotism and collectivism.

2. Folk dragon boat race is an important activity of Dragon Boat Festival, which is very popular and valued in the south of China (there are few rivers in the north). According to experts' research, its earliest origin is the ritual activities of offering water gods or dragon gods to Wuyue people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, and its origin may begin at the end of primitive society.

Dragon boat race is a traditional folk water sports and entertainment project in China, which has been circulated for more than 2000 years. It is mostly held on festive festivals, and it is a multi-person collective rowing competition. The size of dragon boats varies from place to place.

Legend of the origin of dragon boat racing:

1. According to the historian Biographies of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng, Qu Yuan was a minister in Chu Huaiwang during the Warring States Period. He advocated prospering talents and empowering the people, becoming rich and uniting with Qi to resist Qin, which was strongly opposed by the nobles. Qu Yuan was expelled from the capital and exiled to the Yuanxiang Valley.

2. In 278 BC, Qin Jun invaded Kyoto, Chu, and Qu Yuan could not bear to abandon his motherland. On the fifth day of May, after writing his masterpiece Huai Sha, he threw himself into the river.

It is said that after the death of Qu Yuan, the people of Chu were very sad and 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. After that, on May 5th every year, a dragon boat was rowed as a memorial to disperse the fish in the river and prevent them from eating Qu Yuan's body.