The
legend
of Qu
Yuan,
the poet/philosopher
and his
political
protest
against
a corrupt
regime
remains
an important
celebration
in Chinese
culture,
and has
become
a world-wide
sporting
event.
In the
fourth
century
B.C.,
China
was under
political
and military
strife.
This era
is also
known
as the
Warring
States
period.
Qu Yuan,
disgruntled
with the
ruler
and the
state
of affairs,
protested
against
the regime by jumping
into the
Mei Lo
River.
According
to legend,
local
fishermen,
upon seeing
their
beloved
poet's
act of
courage,
raced
out with
their
boats
in an
attempt
to save
him. To
their
dismay,
they arrived too late.
To prevent his body
from being
eaten
by the
fish,
they beat
the waters
furiously
with their
paddles
and threw
rice dumplings
wrapped
in silk
into the
river
to distract
the fish.
The re-enactment
of the
villagers
racing
out to
save Qu
Yuan has
become
today's
dragon
boat race
festival.
Celebrated
on the
fifth
day of
the fifth
lunar
month
of the
Chinese
calendar,
dragon
boat racing
is not
only one
of the
most important
Chinese
traditions
second
to Chinese
New Year,
but now
is an
annual
event
held in over 40
countries.
All around
the world,
people
have embraced
this water
sport
and formed
dragon
boat racing
clubs
in their
own countries.
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