The story of dragon boats racing and zong zi (Dumpling)
Qu Yuan was born in 340BC in an aristocratic family in the State of Chu (present
day Hubei province) during the period of Zhan Guo (Warring States 453BC to
221BC) in Zhou Dynasty (1134BC to 250BC). Qu Yuan was the first man who had been
recorded officially in Chinese history as a poet cum scholar. In Chinese classic
history besides the Shi Jing (the Book of Odes) the only other important poetic
work during the Zhou Dynasty was Chu Ci (Elegies of Chu) which was made up to
large extent of poems by Qu Yuan.
Mei Huai King of Chu (in around the 4th century Before Christ all the rulers of
all the States started to call themselves Kings) employed Qu Yuan as a Fa Ling
Guan (Minister of Laws and Ordinances). All the laws in the State of Chu were
drafted by him. He was very famous in the Chu Court. But he offended the
powerful chief eunch Zhan Shang. He disagreed with the chief eunch over the
policy of foreign affairs. The chief eunch was not happy with Qu Yuan. He lied
and told the King, " Qu Yuan is too proud and is not respecting you. He is
bragging that nothing could be done without him. Every one in the country knows
about it except you your highness".
King Mei Huai was angry and he sacked Qu Yuan as a Minister. He put Qu Yuan to
work as an ordinary clerk in the Ministry.
In 299BC Yin Ji the King of Qin invited the King of Chu for a conference in Wu
Guan (present day Wu Guan city in Shaanxi province). Qu Yuan advised the King
not to go. But the King's son Mei Lan told his father to attend. He argued that
the King of Qin might be infuriated and might attack Chu if the King refused the
invitation as Qin was the most powerful State during that time.
The King of Chu attended the conference. He was incarcerated by the King of Qin
after the conference.
Qu Yuan criticised Mei Lan for telling his father to meet the King of Qin. Mei
Lan was ashamed of himself and angry over Qu Yuan's criticism. He banished Qu
Yuan to the barbaric land south of the capital Jiang Ling (present day Jiang
Ling city in Hubei province).
While on his way to exile he arrived at the river Mi Luo (in present day Xing
Yin district in Hunan province). He wandered around in this region for
sometimes. During his wanderings he composed the Li Sao which was an allegorical
of himself searching for an understanding ruler. More than half of Li Sao was
about fanciful flight through time and space. On the whole Li Sao and his poems
and other works influnced the scholars for many centuries.
He felt with despair and sad. He hated the corrupted government of his country.
He felt he should not be punished for being too loyal to the King. He tied a big
rock over his body and jumped into the river. He disappeared in the water.
People living along the bank of Mi Luo River heard of his disappearance in the
river. They rushed out to the river in boats trying to rescue him. They could
not find him. They could not even find his body. They were afraid that the fish
might devour his body. They made glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo
leaves (later people called these wrapped dumplings Zong Zi) and threw them into
the river hoping that the fish would eat the wrapped dumplings instead of his
body.
He disappeared on the 5th day of the 5th moon (lunar calendar). During those
time people called the 1st day of a moon (month) Duan Yi, the 2nd day Duan Er,
the 3rd day Duan San and so on. People fixed the 5th day of the 5th moon as Duan
Wu Jie to commemorate Qu Yuan's disappearance in the river. Duan meant:
beginning.
Wu meant : the 7th place of the Earth Branch.
Jie meant : festival.
Duan Wu Jie meant the beginning of the 7th Earth Branch festival. Chinese lunar
calendar years are calculated by combing the Stems (Tian Gan) and the Branches
(De Zhi) together to form the name of a certain year. Like this year the year of
the Pig is called Yi (2nd Tian Gan or 2nd Stems) Hai (12th De Zhi or 12th
Branches) year. It takes 60 years to complete one cycle.
Qu Yuan disappeared in the year of Jia or Duan (1st Tian Gan or 1st Stems) Wu
(7th De Zhi or 7th Branches). That was why people called it Duan Wu Jie
(beginning of the 1st Stems of 7th Branches festival).
People living in South China made it an annual event on that day for boats
racing to commemorate the day when people rushing out to the river in boats to
rescue Qu Yuan. A lot of the boats were decorated with dragon heads on the bows.
Later they were called dragon boats and evevtually renamed the event as dragon
boats racing.
It also became a custom for people living in that region near Mi Luo River
making Zong Zi on the 5th day of the 5th moon. They believed that Qu Yuan's body
must have been decomposed under the water. They stopped throwing Zong Zi into
the river to feed the fish. Instead they consumped them as desserts.
