A Legend That Transcends Time: The Dragon Boat Festival

So the legend goes………….

Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese statesman in the southern state of Chu in the pre-imperial Warring States period ( 475 – 221 BC ), a man of impeccable political loyalty and integrity, was banished from his state by the king, who fell under the malicious influence of other corrupt, slanderous ministers. In exile, Qu wrote some of the greatest poems in Chinese literature expressing his love for his state, and his concern for its future.

When he learned of the impending invasion by a neighbouring Warring State, Qu waded into the Miluo River, tethered himself to a rock in order to commit ritual suicide as a protest against the military turmoil.

The common folks in the State of Chu, upon learning Qu’s martyrdom, rushed out on the water in their fishing boats and tried desperately to save Qu Yuan. In despair, they beat drums and splashed the water with their paddles in order to keep the fish and evil spirits from Qu’s body. They also sprinkled rice dumplings in the river to feed the fish, to keep the fish from eating up the poet’s body.

Year after year, generation after generation, in commemoration of Qu Yuan, people in China hold boat races annually on the day of his death, the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar. The day is known as Duen Ng Festival in Cantonese, and Duanwu Festival in Mandarin. The boats are traditionally very long and narrow, canoe-style vessels, adorned with carved ornamental heads and tails of dragons, which are believed to be rulers of rivers and seas and dominate the clouds and rains of heaven. The ritual is also meant to avert calamity and encourage rainfall, which is needed for good harvests.

A Water Sport That Transcends Cultures:
The Dragon Boat Race

Today, dragon boat racing is held globally. It is now an annual event held in over 40 countries. All around the world, far and wide, people have embraced this water sport and formed dragon boat racing clubs in their own countries.

The two most established Dragon Boat Race Festivals in Canada – Toronto and Vancouver – spearheaded the Dragon Boat Council of Canada, the national dragon boat organizing body in Canada. The mission of the Council is to work together to develop criteria and processes to select national dragon boat champions to represent Canada in International and World Championships.