Dragon Boat Fesival

Today is Chinese traditional Dragon Boat Festival, For thousands of years, the Festival has been marked by eating zong zi(glutinous rice wrapped by the leaves) and racing dragon boats.

zong zi

racing dragon boats

The festival has many legends, but the most famous one is to commemorate a famous Chinese poet Qu yuan, Qu yuan was a loyal, upright man, but the emperor in his country believed other's rumor and dismissed his position and he was send into exil. During his exil, he create a masterpiece, The Songs of South, which maintain a great literary value.

In 278BC, his country was carved by the Chu state, Qu yuan was extremly sad about his motherland to be invaded. So, he jumped into Miluo River with a stone on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, many fisherman who lived near the river tried their best to save him, but they unable to find him, they felt very sorry as they known qu yuan was a good man. Finally, they decided to throw rice into the river to feed the fish, it is said that if marine animal was full, his body wounldn't be harmed. Later, people came up with the leave to wrap rice, and the 5th day of the 5th month was becoming a traditional festival to commemorate the patriotic poet, Qu yuan.

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Comment by Mohyie on June 24, 2012 at 9:16: Interesting information about this festival, and wonderful style of presenting ^_^

Comment by Fidan on June 24, 2012 at 7:47: Thank you for interesting blog.

Comment by Anau on June 23, 2012 at 16:47: Hi Stone! I can find Zong Zi in my county. But in My country they are named as "Bacang". It delicious meal...^.^ Thanks for sharing