Dragon Boat History

Dragon Boat Race Ceremony

The Dragon Boat Festival honours a patriotic Chinese poet Wut Yuen who drowned himself as a protest against the evils of corruption. Prior to the race start, all the oarsmen put on the costumes and walk around the dragon boat three times, burning dozens of candlles. This is called the "lighting up" ceremony. Still holding burning candles they carry the dragon heads to Qu Zi temple to worship Qu Yuan, then the best oarsmen from each team wraps their boat's dragon head in red cloth, to symbolise sacredness and happiness, and carries it down to the boat for the start of the race.

Wut Yuen - A world famous scholar

Wut Yuen (known as Qu Yuan in mandarin), who lived from 340 to 278 B.C. is one of China's foremost famous scholars. He was born to a traditional aristocratic family in the Chu State during the later years of the Warring States period. Profoundly learned, Wut Yuen was Zuoto-premier under the Chu Emperor. Externally, he advocated an alliance with the Qi State against the Qing State, internally, he advocated promoting those with demonstrated ability. Because of these views, he was fiercely attacked by the conservative aristocracy, and the Emperor gradually distanced himself from the Wut Yuen. In 298 B.C. Wut Yuen was exiled to the south of the Yangtze River where he settled for twenty years in Miluo, until his death. The year 278 B.C. saw the Chu capital taken by the Qing State and Wut Yuen, deeply grieved by his inability to save his state, drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month that year.

As founder of the romantic but patriotic school of Chinese poetry, he created a number of brilliant verses, including "Li Shao" and "Nine Chapters", which were passed down from generation. His works show his anger against political corruption, his worries for people, and his strong spirit of self sacrifice for his principles.

Historic sites connected with Wut Yuen in the Miluo River

The area along both banks of the Miluo River is dotted with many sites of historic interest connected with Wut Yuen. Quzi Temple stands on Yusi Hill, which is to the north of the river's lower reaches and about fifteen kilometres north west of Miluo City. The temple used to be located close to the river bank in the late year of the Chu State, in the Warring State period. However, it was later moved to the present site. Since then, a tremendous number of celebrated Chinese scholars and political figures from different dynasties have left over two hundred complimentary scrolls in memory of Wut Yuen.

During his exile, Wut Yuen often chatted with local fisherman at the ferry boat landing stage, and from time to time he read his verses aloud to them:

"The whole state is corrupt,
I alone am honest,
The public is drunk,
Only I am awake."

The tragic death of Wut Yuen is commemorated each year on the fifth day of the fifth moon, when the fisherman's attempt to save the poet is re-enacted in the form of dragon boat races.

Eating Jung (Glutinous rice dumplings)

Jung are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed leaves. They have many different fillings, including chicken, pork, ham and sweetened bean paste. There are also plain rice ones. According to legendary stories, jungs were made especially to be thrown into the river, both as a sacrifice to Wut Yuen, and in the hope that this would prevent the fish from eating his body, so giving him immortality.

Hanging of Artemisis and Flag (both medicinal plants)

During the festival, local people always hang these two plant above their doors in the belief that they will stave off both bad luck and disease. Artemesia is a kind of herbal grass belonging to the chrysanthenum family. It is an important ingredient in Chinese medicine, when dried and twisted into a cord, it is effective against mosquitoes whilst burning. Flag, also a kind of herbal grass, contains a sweet rolatile oil which is both refreshing and antiseptic.

Wearing of Aromatic Herbal bags

During the festival, local people wear small bags of aromatic herbs at their waist. These bags are silk and embroidered in five colours, containing a mixture of dried vanilla and fragrant grasses and are given by local young girls to their boyfriends as a symbol of their engagement.

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