VIDEO
HIGHLIGHT
Log InSign up
话说中国节: 端午篇 Festive China: Dragon Boat Festival
SummaryTranscriptChat

话说中国节: 端午篇 Festive China: Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival: History and Traditions

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the 5th lunar month. This festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the state of Chu during the Warring States period.

Legend of Qu Yuan

  • Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from Chu, devoted his life to his country.
  • Feeling remorse for the decline of Chu, he threw himself into the river on the fifth day of the 5th lunar month.
  • People rushed into boats to search for him and threw dumplings into the river to prevent fish and turtles from devouring his body.

Evolution of Dragon Boat Festival

  • To honor Qu Yuan's sacrifice, dragon boat races and rice dumpling offerings became customs on this day.
  • In 2009, the festival was recognized as China's first intangible cultural heritage.

Significance of Zongzi in Dragon Boat Festival

Zongzi, a traditional food made during the Dragon Boat Festival, holds great significance in Chinese culture.

Preparation of Zongzi

  • Families used to soak glutinous rice and wrap it in reed leaves with fillings like jujube or meat.
  • Nowadays, zongzi is mass-produced with various fillings on production lines.

Modern Production and Consumption

  • A company in China produces over three million zongzi daily during the festival season.
  • Zongzi consumption exceeds 400 million pieces annually in certain regions.

Evolution of Dragon Boat Racing

Dragon boat racing has evolved from a local tradition to an international sporting event with historical roots dating back over two thousand years.

Historical Roots

  • In Hubei Province, an annual dragon boat race has been held for more than two millennia.
  • Today, dragon boat racing has become a grand sports event globally.

International Reach

  • Over 85 countries hold dragon boat races annually.
Video description

端午安康！明天天是农历五月初五，端午节。关于它流传最广的传说，与战国时期爱国诗人、政治家屈原有关。屈原一生忠贞、为国投江，为了纪念他，五月初五“龙舟竞渡”、“角黍投江”等习俗流传至今。快来点击收看中国日报网系列视频《话说中国节》之端午篇，了解屈原的故事，同时感受粽子和龙舟的“前世今生”吧。 The Dragon Boat Festival falls on Thursday this year, which is the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. There are many legends about the 2,000-year-old  festival,  but  the  most  famous one is commemorating the death of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). Qu Yuan is said to have been loyal and patriotic his whole life. When he realized the decline of Chu was beyond recovery, his remorse knowing he could no longer save it grew stronger and stronger. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, he threw himself into the river and died for his beloved homeland.    Watch this video to learn more about the legend, as well as traditions and festive foods related to the festival.