May 28th 2009.

Today is the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which means that it is  Dragon Boat Festival.

The festival’s origins go back to the Waring States Period (475 -221 BC) and the death of Qu Yuan, a former minister in the Zhou court.This was a period of great upheaval in China that was to end with the formation of the first unified country we can call China.

Qu Yuan was a minister in the Zhou court. He did much to champion justice and fight rampant corruption. This kind of activity did not endear him to some members of the court, so when he advised against a war with the Qin state his enemies managed to have him exiled from the court.

Upon hearing of the eventual defeat of the Zhou by the Qin Qu Yuan became so despondent that he committed suicide by throwing himself in the Milou river. The people loved and respected him so much that they couldn’t stand the thought of fish eating his body. Fishermen rush out in longboats to scare the fish away and distract them by throwing zong zi in to the river. This act is the origin of the Dragon boat races.

Before taking his life Qu Yuan wrote a final poem.

Many a heavy sigh I have in my despair,

Grieving that I was born in such an unlucky time,

I yoked a team of jade dragons to a phoenix chariot,

And waited for the wind to come,

to soar up on my journey.

Vocabulary for Dragon Boat Festival

• 端午节 duān wŭ jiě           Dragon Boat Day
• 粽子zòng zi                      Sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves.
• 包粽bāo zòng zi               Wrap zong zi.
• 屈原qū yuán                      The poet who started it all.
• 龙舟lóng zhōu                   Dragon Boat
• 龙船lóng chuán                 Another name for Dragon Boat
• 香 包xiāng bāo                  Scented decorative bags traditionally given to children
• 艾草ài căo                          Kind of grass tied to the front door to keep evil spirits out
• 立 蛋lì dàn                          Game played on Dragon Boat Festival.

I can’t make zong zi myself so I’ve searched the web for recipes. This one looks like a good one for you to try.Eating China.

Tags: Chinese festivals, Chinese legends

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