The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duan Wu Jie, or Tuen Ng Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Although, originally an agricultural festival to appease the dragon god of the river, this occasion also commemorates the death of the patriotic poet and hero Qu Yuan.
Qu Yuan lived from 340-278 B.C. during a time of war between the kingdoms of Chu and Qin. He served Chu with loyalty wisdom and integrity but his advice was rejected in favour of the more flattering words offered by corrupt men in the court, Qu Yuan was banished from the kingdom. Qu Yuan expressed his anger and disappointment through poetry. He protested against the corrupt court by throwing himself into the Mi Luo River on the fifth day of the fifth month. When word of his suicide reached the people, they raced out in their boats to scare away the fish and to find him. When they were unable to find him, they threw rice into the river as an offering to Qu Yuan.
In ancient times, many Chinese were superstitious and believed that a dragon god controlled the rivers and the rains. China was an agricultural society and abundant rainfall was important. The fifth month was considered an evil month and it was an especially bad omen to be born on the fifth day. May brings violent storms to China, unpredictable weather conditions are considered dangerous to many farmers. Storms bring unwanted insects that carry contagious diseases. This was the month during the hot summer when the weather was most conducive to diseases brought on by the "Five Gods of Plague".
Dragon boats were described as the vehicle of the immortals in records dating from the reign of Chou Muwang (Chou Dynasty, 1111-249 B.C.). According to legend, the sun god Hsiho rode a hornless dragon over the horizon, representing the setting sun and the coming of night.
People dread the devastating floods, so to protect themselves from the evil spirits of May, farmers pray to the water dragon who lives in the river to bless them with rainfall without opening the floodgates. They paddle boats along the river and pound drums to wake up the sleepy dragon. They make sacrifices by offing the dragon rice dumplings called zongzi. Children also wear sachets called to ward off evil spirits from taking their young lives.
To combat against evil, protective charms were developed. One included wearing five coloured threads or ribbons representing the five elements; azure=wood, black=water, red=fire, white=metal, and yellow=earth. Realgar, a mineral with an odour, was burned to drive away demons.
Another charm included the method of combating evil with more evil. People would embroider the "five poisons" on clothing or stamped their images on cakes. The "five poisons" are represented by the centipede, lizard, scorpion, snake and toad.
Yet another method included hanging a bouquet of four types of green leaves and on posy of flowers, making a cluster of five over doorways to ward off demons. Mugwort leaves, calamus and garlic were also hung over doorways to ward off poisonous influences.
Lastly, portraits of Zhong Kui, a demon-slayer, or pieces of paper with anti-demonic incantations were posted outside and around the house.
For many Chinese families, traditions are still the same. Families congregate to make their favourite rice dumplings. They tell their youngsters about the poet Qu Yuan and remind them that the Dragon Boat Festival is about family. "Racing is not about winning. It is about teamwork and community.It is about working towards common goals."
The wooden boats used in the Dragon Boat Festival range from forty to over a hundred feet in length. They resemble a dragon and possess the roar of drums. They are powered by up to eighty rowers and a drummer, rowing is synchronised to the beat of the drum. Dragon boat races are held in the rivers and lakes of Southern China and sacrifices are offered to the dragon. Spectators also strike gongs and drums while lighting firecrackers.
People also eat, Zong Zi, rice dumplings to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Legend states that the spirit of Qu Yuan appeared to some fishermen, saying that the dragon god of the river had been stealing and eating rice offerings that had been meant for him. As a result, people inserted the rice into bamboo stems and closed the ends with chinaberry leaves. They tied the ends with five-coloured threads because they believed that the dragon god was afraid of these colours.
Today, rice dumplings are served as glutinous rice wrapped with bamboo leaves into pyramid shapes, and tied together with strings. Inside the glutinous rice, one may find chicken, pork, beans, as well as egg yolk.
The Dragon dance is a popular folk dance all over China. Dragon-lanterns are created with bamboo tubes covered and joined with silk or coloured paper. Each section contains a lit candle with a wooden handle attached for performers to manoeuvre the dragon in festive rolling movements.The dragon-lantern dance is accompanied by firecrackers and fireworks.
In South China the straw dragon consists of straw, cane or willow twigs. On evenings between the 5th and 6th lunar months burning incense is often attached all over the dragon to entice insects into landing upon the dragon. At the end of the performance the dragon is thrust into the water to drown the insects and aid in relieving insect plagues. In Northwest China the straw dragon is waved during severe drought, spectators splash water on the performers and pray for rain.
