Chinese Dragon Boat Festival | History and Traditions
The Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, is a traditional cultural holiday celebrated in China and other countries in the East Asian cultural sphere. According to the ancient text Jing Chu Suishiji, the day marks the beginning of midsummer, when the sun is at its zenith.
This makes the first “Wu” day of May, a day of good weather for climbing high and enjoying the sunlight. Hence, the 5th of May is also known as the Duanyang Festival. Other names for this holiday include Wu Ri Festival, May Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Bathing in Orchid Festival.
*Dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival.
*Dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Overview🐉
For over 2,000 years, celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival has been a deeply ingrained tradition for the Chinese people. Given the vastness of China, the diversity of its ethnic groups, and the numerous stories and legends surrounding the festival, a variety of names and customs have emerged across different regions.
Common activities include daughters visiting their parents, hanging portraits of Zhong Kui (a mythological figure who wards off evil), ghost boat parades, hiding at noon, posting Wu Ye talismans, hanging calamus and mugwort, parades for warding off plagues, wearing sachets, preparing sacrificial wine and meat, dragon boat races, martial arts competitions, playing ball games, swinging, smearing children with realgar, drinking realgar wine or calamus wine, and eating wu du cakes, salted eggs, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and seasonal fruits.
While some of the more superstitious activities have faded, many of these customs continue to thrive across China and neighboring countries. Some traditions, such as dragon boat racing, have evolved into major international sporting events, transcending both time and geographical boundaries.
*Adorable Zongzi for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Origins
The origins of the Dragon Boat Festival are numerous and varied, including the theory that it commemorates the poet Qu Yuan, the remembrance of Wu Zixu, the legend of Cao E, its association with ancient summer solstice festivals, or as a ritual to ward off evil spirits during the “bad month and day.”
Another theory suggests it began as a totem worship festival among the ancient Wu and Yue peoples. According to scholar Wen Yiduo’s studies, the festival likely originated from totemic rituals practiced by the Wu and Yue peoples in southern China, long before Qu Yuan’s time. However, Qu Yuan’s patriotism and moving poetry have had a profound impact over the centuries, with people memorializing him through dragon boat races and the eating of zongzi, both of which have become inseparable from the festival’s modern celebrations.
Origins of the Festival🪂
The Dragon Boat Festival originated in China, initially celebrated by the Baiyue peoples (living in the region around the Yangtze River) as a totemic dragon-worship ceremony. Before the Spring and Autumn period, the Baiyue tribes would hold totem-worship rituals on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, which included dragon boat races. Later, during the Warring States period, the festival came to be associated with the death of the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River on that day. Some regions also associate the festival with the memory of Wu Zixu and Cao E.
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of China’s four major traditional festivals, along with Chinese New Year, Qingming Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. Since ancient times, dragon boat races and zongzi have been key aspects of the holiday. In 2008, the Dragon Boat Festival became a national public holiday. In May 2006, the State Council included it in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items, and in September 2009, UNESCO approved its addition to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it the first Chinese festival to be inscribed on this list.
*Setting up watermelons for the Dragon Boat Festival.
*Making zongzi for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Cultural Traditions
Dragon boat races and eating zongzi are the most iconic traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival. These customs are deeply rooted in the culture of the Wu and Yue regions. According to the Book of Han, ancient Yue people practiced tattooing and cut their hair short to protect themselves from river creatures like dragons. As the Yue people worshipped dragons, they would hold grand totem-worship rituals each year during the Dragon Boat Festival, racing dragon-shaped boats and tossing zongzi into the water as offerings to the river gods.
Dragon Boat Racing🛶
According to archaeological discoveries at the Hemudu site, dating back 7,000 years, early inhabitants were already using dugout canoes, which were rowed with wooden paddles. Dragon boats, as a cultural artifact, existed long before Qu Yuan’s time. Before the Spring and Autumn period, the Baiyue peoples would race dragon-shaped boats during totem-worship ceremonies on the 5th of May.
The earliest known dragon boat images, dating back to ancient times, were found in Cijia Village, Yunlong Town, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. Originally, dragon boats were simple dugouts carved into dragon shapes, later evolving into dragon-shaped boats made from planks.
Hanging Herbal Plants🪴
On the Dragon Boat Festival, it’s common to hang calamus and mugwort on the front door, along with other plants like pomegranates or garlic. These herbs were believed to have medicinal properties and were used to ward off evil spirits. People would tie the plants together with red paper and hang them above their doors.
Calamus, which is shaped like a sword and grows during the festival season, was seen as capable of driving away malevolent forces. In ancient texts, it is referred to as the “water sword.” Over time, the folk tradition has evolved, with the leaves of the calamus plant being cut into sword shapes to symbolize protection against evil.
Mugwort was believed to bring health and prosperity, as it had been used medicinally since ancient times. It was burned on acupuncture points in traditional Chinese medicine practices. The belief that mugwort could ward off evil comes from its medical properties.
Eating Zongzi🍔
Zongzi, also known as “rice dumplings,” are made from glutinous rice stuffed with fillings, wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. The shape of zongzi varies, with some being triangular and others square. Zongzi was originally a sacrificial offering for ancestral spirits. When it was introduced to northern China, millet was used instead of rice. The Dragon Boat Festival custom of eating zongzi has persisted for thousands of years and remains one of the most widespread traditional Chinese food customs, with different regional variations. It has also spread to other countries in East and Southeast Asia.
*Hanging herbs for the Dragon Boat Festival.
*Rowing dragon boats for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Drinking Realgar Wine🍶
In the past, drinking realgar wine during the Dragon Boat Festival was a popular tradition, especially in the Yangtze River basin. Realgar, which is ground into powder and mixed with white wine or yellow wine, was believed to have medicinal properties. Ancient people believed that realgar could ward off venomous creatures like snakes and scorpions, as well as dispel harmful spirits.
The Legend of Qu Yuan👤
During the Warring States period, the states of Chu and Qin were competing for dominance. Qu Yuan, a highly respected poet, served the king of Chu but was ultimately exiled due to slander by his political rivals. Deeply troubled by the state of his country, Qu Yuan wrote masterpieces such as Li Sao and Tian Wen. In 229 BCE, Qin forces captured several Chu cities. Qu Yuan, seeing the decline of his homeland, walked to the Miluo River and, in despair, ended his life by throwing himself into the water.
Upon hearing of his death, the people of Chu rushed to the river to search for his body. This act of searching for Qu Yuan is believed to have evolved into the dragon boat races of today. People also threw zongzi and eggs into the river, hoping the fish would eat them instead of Qu Yuan’s body, and poured realgar wine into the water to protect him from evil spirits.
The Legend of Bai Suzhen🐍
In this tale, a white snake spirit named Bai Suzhen, who had spent 1,000 years cultivating her human form, fell in love with a scholar named Xu Xian. On the Dragon Boat Festival, Xu Xian tricked Bai Suzhen into drinking realgar wine, which caused her to revert to her snake form, frightening Xu Xian to death. Bai Suzhen, in her deep love for Xu Xian, went on a perilous journey to obtain a magical herb to bring him back to life. This legend is also closely tied to the Dragon Boat Festival through its association with realgar wine.
The Significance of the Dragon Boat Festival🚩
The cultural connotations and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival embody the rich emotional landscape of the people, reflecting deep patriotism and carrying numerous beautiful wishes. These poetic festival traditions provide generations with spiritual comfort and represent people’s aspirations and blessings for a better life.
Cultural Essence: The discussion about whether to wish “happiness” or “health” during the Dragon Boat Festival reveals the public’s quest for the essence and traditional aspects of the holiday. There is a desire to authentically restore the cultural significance of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Patriotic Sentiment: People commemorate Qu Yuan not only for his artistic achievements but also for his great spirit and profound love for his country.
National and Family Sentiment: The sense of national and familial identity during the Dragon Boat Festival needs to be strongly promoted. For many, the festival is just a short holiday, but for frontline workers—such as healthcare professionals, community staff, transportation workers, and sanitation workers—it remains a time of “battle.” It is their silent dedication and resilience that enable a safe and healthy Dragon Boat Festival. Their actions themselves are a testament to patriotism, deserving of recognition from society as a whole.
Sense of Ritual: During the Dragon Boat Festival, various festive activities are organized in different regions—such as reciting “Li Sao,” making zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), creating fragrant sachets, and dragon boat racing. These activities establish a sense of ritual, gradually bringing people closer to tradition through participation.
Sincere Love: The genuine love for our homeland and nation embodied in the Dragon Boat Festival can inspire us with immense strength to persevere and strive forward.
Responsibility of Heritage: The Dragon Boat Festival, along with the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of China’s four major traditional festivals. It is our historical responsibility to inherit and promote the cultural essence of the Dragon Boat Festival.