BriefIntroductionTheDragonBoatFestivaloccursonthefifthdayofMayofthelunarcalendar.ItisoneofthethreemostimportantannualChinesefestivals.TheothertwoaretheMiddleAutumnFestivalandChineseNewYear.
Origin
ThestoryofthiscolorfulfestivalconcernsafamousChinesescholar-statesmannamedQuYuanwholivedsomethreecenturiesBCandservedtheKingofChuduringtheWarringStatesperiod.Asaloyalminister,QuYuanatfirstenjoyedfullrespectfromhissovereign.Butthroughtheintriguesofhisrivals,hewasdiscredited(使丧失信誉).QuYuanwasneverabletoregaintheemperor'sfavorandonthefifthdayofMayintheyear295BC,attheageof37,heclaspedastonetohischestandplungedintotheMiluoRiverinHunanProvince.
Respectingtheministerasanupright(正直的)andhonestman,thepeoplewholivedinthatareajumpedintotheirboatsandrushedoutinavainsearchforhim.ThisunsuccessfulrescueattemptisapartofwhattheDragonBoatFestivalcommemorateseveryyear.
costoms1.holddraganboatcontest2.eatzongzi&drinkrealgarwine(雄黄酒)3.hangargywormwood(艾草)
ProbablythemostexcitingandinterestingaspectofthefestivalistheracingoftheDragonBoats.Theseracesnotonlysymbolizethepeople'sattempttosaveQuYuan,theyalsodemonstratetheChinesevirtuesofcooperationandteamwork.
costoms1.holddraganboatcontest2.eatzongzi&drinkrealgarwine(雄黄酒)3.hangargywormwood(艾草)
AnotheractivityoftheFestivalismakingandeatingakindofdumplingcalledZongzi.WhenitbecameknownthatQuYuanwasgoneforever,thepeoplelivingalongtheriverthrewcookedriceintothewaterasasacrificetotheirdeadhero.Theywrappedriceinbambooleaves,andstuffeditwithham,beans,beanpaste(豆沙),saltedeggyokes,sausages,nuts,and/orvegetables.
AncientfolkmedicinessuchasrealgarareaddedtothefoodeatenontheFestival.Thisisbelievedtopreventdiseaseandpromoteahealthydigestivesystem.Drinkingwinewithrealgarinitissupposedtorelievetheeffectsofpoisonsaccumulatedinhumanbody.
costoms1.holddraganboatcontest2.eatzongzi&drinkrealgarwine(雄黄酒)3.hangargywormwood(艾草)
ToChinesethefifthlunarmonthismorethanjusttheDragonBoatFestival.Sincetheancienttimes,theyhavebelievedthatthismonthisapestilential(令人讨厌的)anddanger-fraughtperiod.Childrenborninthismontharesaidtobedifficulttoraise,andpeopletendtoconcentratetheireffortsduringthistimeonattemptingtoprotecttheirfamiliesfromillnessandmisfortune.
SothedayoftheDragonBoatFestivaliscustomarilythetimewhencleaningandsanitationarestressed.Mostfamilieshangangywormwoodabovetheirdoorsandwindows,bothasadecorationandapreventiveagainstpestilence.
WhoseDragonBoatFestival?
IntheopinionsofS.Koreanscholars,theDragonBoatFestivalsoftheROKandChinadiffervastly.China‘sDragonBoatFestivalcontainsDragonBoatsofferingsacrificialtoQuYuan,whileJiangLing,thoughlocatedbytheseaside,doesn’tcontainthisactivity.S.Korea‘sDuanWuFestivalcontainstheactivityofworshippingregionalrenownedfiguresaspatronsaints.
ThesescholarspointedoutthatattheAsiaInternationalFolkCustomsSymposium(专题研讨会)in1997andthe2002SeminarconcerningtheDragonBoatFestivalheldbyS.Korean,ChineseandJapanesescholars,ChinesescholarsacknowledgedthatJiangLing'sDuanWucustomsaredifferentfromthatofChina's.
whatshouldwedo?NomatterwhetherornottheROKappliesformakingDragonBoatFestivalaworldculturalheritageforitsowncountry,thetopicofChina'straditionalnationalculturehasonceagainarousedtheChinesepeople'sattention,theROKwhichisalsointhesameculturalcirclehasmanythingsthatareworthwhileforChinatouseasreference.Weshouldpaymoreattentiontoourtraditionalfestivalsanddon’tletthemfadeawayinourmemory.
ThankYou!