History and Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival started in China over 2 000 years ago during the Spring and Autumn Periods. It originated from the worship of the Dragon Totem from ancient tribes.
The Dragon Boat Festival Originated from Ancient Dragon Worship
The Dragon Boat Festival finds its roots in the ancient tribes' dragon worship along the Yangtze River.
The people living in the Yangtze River region viewed themselves as descendants of the dragon. They saw the dragon as their totem and protective deity. To honor their god, they even styled their hair and tattooed their bodies to resemble a dragon.
Each year on the fifth day of the fifth month, they held a grand ceremony to pay tribute to the Dragon. According to their beliefs, this day was thought to be the most auspicious.
The fifth day of the fifth month was regarded as the most "upright day" in ancient beliefs, which signifies great auspiciousness and fortune.
The day is referred to as 端午 (Duānwǔ), signifying the most upright time. During this day, the dragon was flying in the sky and the Dragon Star is at the zenith in the south, representing the most "upright" position in the year's celestial movement. This symbolizes great auspiciousness and fortune, as it is both "balanced" and "upright."
During the ceremony, people tossed rice wrapped in bamboo leaves (Zongzi) into rivers and lakes as offerings to the dragon. They also participated in canoe races, where the boats were carved and painted to resemble dragons and adorned with tribal totems. The races were accompanied by rhythmic, fast-paced drumming. This event honored the dragon god and provided entertainment for the people, giving rise to the tradition of dragon boat racing.
Story: Dragon Boat Festival is to Commemorate Quyuan
A widely believed story in China about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival is that it commemorates Qu Yuan.
Qu Yuan was a poet from the State of Chu (now Hubei) during the Warring States Period. He helped his king build a strong state. However, the king was later misled by others, leading him to reject Qu Yuan's proposals and banish him to a remote area. This foolish decision eventually caused the fall of the kingdom.
Upon hearing the tragic news of the Chu State's downfall, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
The people of the Chu state adored Qu Yuan. When they heard the sad news, they raced their boats on the river to find his body but were unsuccessful. To prevent fish from consuming Qu Yuan's body, they threw rice wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river.
Since then, every year on the anniversary of Qu Yuan's death, people hold boat races and throw Zongzi into the river. This practice has evolved into the custom of the Dragon Boat Festival.
The History Development of the Dragon Boat Festival
Before the Han Dynasty, the Dragon Boat Festival was mainly an occasion to worship the dragon for good fortune. In some northern regions of China, the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival mainly focused on warding off evil.
Later it gradually became a traditional festival in China. There are three major development for the dragon boat festival:
Dragon Worship in Ancient Times
Dragon boat racing began as a tribal totem worship ritual carried out by the ancient tribes along the Yangtze River. These tribes believed the Dragon was their protected God.
As a part of the ceremony, they painted their tribal totems on wooden canoes and raced on the water to please the Dragon. They also threw Zongzi into rivers and lakes as offerings to the Dragon. Over time, these activities became the customs of eating Zongzi and racing dragon boats during the festival.
Dispelling Evil Before the Tang Dynasty
Ancient people believed that the fifth month during the Dragon Boat Festival was considered a poisonous or evil month. In this month, the Yang energy peaked on the fifth day of the fifth month, meaning that insects and other creatures associated with misfortune were particularly active, bringing harm and bad luck.
The main goal of the Dragon Boat Festival during this time was to ward off evil. People hung calamus and wormwood on their doors to dispel evil influences away.
A Joyful Celebration Since the Tang Dynasty
During the Tang Dynasty, The Dragon Boat Festival became a grand occasion filled with enjoyment. People enjoyed themselves on this day by having grand feasts and holding dragon boat races.
Modern Times and International Recognition
In the 20th and 21st centuries, Dragon Boat Festival has become one of the most important traditional Festivals in China. It also has been increasingly acknowledged globally. The festival has become part of popular culture in many countries, promoting sport, cultural exchange, and unity.
In 2009, the Dragon Boat Festival was inscribed on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.