Myths and Legends from Beyond the Yangtze - Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival… just boat races on a river?? Or more about loyalty, poetry and suicidal sacrifice some 2300 years ago?
Michael Queree at the Miluo River
6/22/20264 min read
Introduction
The Dragon Boat Festival, known as Duanwu Festival in Chinese, is a traditional cultural event celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar. It is observed not only in China but also in various countries including Singapore, Malaysia and regions with significant Chinese populations.
But like most Chinese events, if you dig deeper, there are numerous historical layers and cultural practices associated with this festival. Duanwu is much more than just boat races on the river, it records a sad event that took place during the emergence of the China unifying Qin Dynasty.
Origins and Historical Background
This festival dates back more than 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. The most widely accepted origin story revolves around Qu Yuan, State Official and Poet (340-278 BC) from the state of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Qu Yuan a high official of that time was a loyal and patriotic figure who, upon witnessing the decline of his beloved Chu state, chose to end his life by drowning himself in the Miluo River, a tributary of the mid-Yangtze River in Hunan province.
Local people, mourning his loss, threw rice into the river to distract fish from consuming Qu Yuan's body, leading to the tradition of "zongzi" (glutinous rice dumplings) being associated with the festival.Write your text here...
Cultural Significance and Traditions
The Dragon Boat Festival is marked by a variety of cultural practices, folk customs and foods that vary by region. Some of the key elements include:
Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon boat races are the centrepiece of the festival. Teams paddle in long, narrow boats adorned with dragon heads, racing to the beat of drums. These races not only honour Qu Yuan but also serve as a vibrant display of teamwork and community spirit.
Preparing and eating Zongzi
Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, are a staple food during the festival. These dumplings can have sweet or savoury fillings, with variations seen across different regions of China. In the north, sweet fillings like red bean paste are popular, while southern preferences lean towards savoury options such as salted egg yolk and pork.
Drinking Realgar Wine
Consuming Realgar Wine is another tradition associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. The wine, consisting of fermented cereals and powdered realgar, is considered both a medicinal and protective drink. Realgar wine or Xionghuang wine is a Chinese alcoholic drink that consists of huangjiu ("yellow wine") dosed with powdered realgar (As4S4), a yellow-orange arsenic sulfide mineral! Realgar was considered to be a universal antidote against poison by traditional Chinese medicine, which therefore advocated its use for protection against disease, epidemics, poisonous snakes, and evil spirits.
According to legend, locals rushed in boats to save Qu Yuan or protect his body from being eaten by the fish. A doctor among them is said to have cast realgar into the river, drawing out an aquatic dragon which the boatmen promptly killed.
As there are high levels of arsenic associated with this drink, its use in recent times has been questioned!
Hanging “Auspicious Leaves”
To prevent diseases, repel insects and ward off evil forces, another Duanwu tradition is to decorate house entrances with therapeutic herbs like mugwort and calamus. These plants have strong smells and are believed to have protective properties, aligning with the festival's themes of health, safety and well-being for the hot season ahead.
Wearing Scented Sachets (Ai Cao Bao)
During Dragon Boat Festival, children normally wear scented sachets threaded with five-colour silk string to ward off evil. A scented sachet is an ornament worn on the front of the dress.
It is usually wrapped in a silk cloth and sometimes embroidered with exquisite patterns. Multicolour silk threads are attached to the sachet as decorative tassels. In some areas of China, a scented sachet is also used as a token between young lovers.
Regional Variations and Global Celebrations
While the Dragon Boat Festival is rooted in Chinese culture, its influence extends beyond China.
Around the world, particularly in countries with large Chinese communities, the festival is celebrated with dragon boat races and cultural events. In the United States, cities like New York and San Francisco host dragon boat festivals that draw participants from diverse backgrounds, celebrating both the sport and its cultural origins.
Cultural Impact and Modern Relevance
It is for these deeper historical traditions that the Dragon Boat Festival has been recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, highlighting its cultural significance and the need to preserve traditional practices. As evidenced in China, it is celebrated as a public holiday, with activities and events that reinforce cultural identity and community bonds.
