Celebrate the dragon boat festival
2021-06-11
As one of the four most vital traditional festivals in China, the dragon boat festival is coming on this weekend, which is on the fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month.
However, why is the day called the dragon boat festival? Let us circle back to Chinese ancient history. Generally speaking, there are various tale versions about the dragon boat festival. One version is the ancestors of Wuyue in the south established this festival to worship the dragon bless and pray for good fortune. The ancestors divide the astrology in to 28 groups in terms of orbit track of sun, moon and stars. The 28 groups are assembled by four districts. In particular, one of the star connection of the districts looks like a dragon called “black dragon of Eastern”.
Furthermore, the dragon boat festival is on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month when summer begins and the “black dragon of Eastern” flying in the south of sky. Therefore, people held the day as a memorial ceremony for dragon in the ancient times of China. The opposite to the Western culture, dragon in China is regarded as an auspicious of symbol and on behalf of sacred and dignified, which can protect us far from evil and ward off bad luck. Therefore, Chinese people place hope on dragon and promise a bright prospect to themselves.
Another widespread version saying the dragon boat festival is used for in memory of the great ancestor Yuan Qu.
Yuan Qu is an extraordinary poet and loyal official of the State of Chu in the Warring States Period. He contributed himself to his country and had brought the thriving results. However, because of some political affairs, Yuan Qu was expelled to a far suburb. However, during his expelled period, he had created some splendent poems which are included in the textbook, such as “Li Sao”, “Tian Wen”, “Jiu Ge” and etc.
In 278 BC, Yuan Qu was extreme grief by going through the invasion of his country. Finally, he threw himself into the Miluo river in despair and ended his life. After Yuan Qu’s death, people of his country were heartbroken and went to the Miluo river to mourn him. For protecting Yuan Qu’s body would been eaten by fishes, people throwing some onigiris and eggs into the river. Because people firmly believed when the fishes too have enough to eat the Yuan Qu’s body, and they wrapped the onigiris with neem leaves and colorful ropes to stop inside rice eaten by water monster.
Moreover, one old doctor poured a jar of realgar wine into the Miluo river for stunning the water monsters. Thus, dragon boat racing, eating rice dumpling and drinking realgar wine become the custom on the dragon boat festival.
Due to the magnificent characters of Yuan Qu, the dragon boat festival called poet festival as same. As one of the most remarkable works of Yuan Qu, Li Sao describes the disillusionment of a soul in agony, riding on dragon from heaven to earth. Yuan Qu poured out his concern about the destiny of his country and the people. This poem takes flowers and birds in a metaphor term to associate with the conflict between reality and ideality. By means of rich imagery and skillful similes, it shows active Chinese ancient romanticism and have a huge impact on the subsequent poem form and works. The transcript of Li Sao as showed
Now let’s appreciate the immortality of Li Sao.
A prince am I of ancestry renowned,
Illustrious name my royal sire hath found.
When Sirius did in spring its light display,
A child was born, and Tiger marked the day.
When first upon my face my lord’s eye glanced,
For me auspicious names he straight advanced,
Denoting that in me Heaven’s marks divine
Should with the virtues of the earth combine.
With lavished innate qualities indued,
By art and skill my talents I renewed;
Angelic herbs and sweet selineas too,
And orchids late that by the water grew,
I wove for ornament; till creeping Time,
Like water flowing, stole away my prime.
Magnolias of the glade I plucked at dawn,
At eve beside the stream took winter-thorn.
Without delay the sun and moon sped fast,
In swift succession spring and autumn passed;
The fallen flowers lay scattered on the ground,
The dusk might fall before my dream was found.
Had I not loved my prime and spurned the vile,
Why should I not have changed my former style?
My chariot drawn by steeds of race divine,
I urged; to guide the king my sole design.
This above is the general introduction of Chinese dragon boat festival. In fact, the whole history and custom of dragon boat are more fascinating than described in this essay. Those who are fancy of Chinese culture or interested in Shanghai Iven, please subscribe our account. We will constantly update more attractive Chinese culture materials and relative pharmaceutical industry information in here. Stay tuned Shanghai Iven, we can show you more delicacy. Thank you so much.
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