The
History of Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon Boat
Racing?
“So what’s Dragon Boat Racing?” we hear you ask. Well,
we could tell you but we’d have to kill you, so read this instead…
Dragon Boat Racing - 2,400
Years of Tradition
The Chinese Dragon Boat Race Festival is a
symbol of Chinese culture and spirit. As one of the three largest Chinese festivals
of the year, this ancient and time-honored celebration can now be witnessed
world-wild. To be a part of a Dragon Boat Race as a participant or spectator, is a thrilling experience.
Dragon Boat racing is a reflection of a
memorable historical event that occurred more than 2,400 years ago. It is a
story of self-sacrifice. Numerous supremacy wars were erupting during the
"Warring States" of the fourth century B.C.E..
Emperor Chu's kingdom was one of the mightiest
remaining.
A man of great respect, Qu Yuan was a poet, minister and councilor to the Emperor.
Unfortunately, he was cast into exile as a result of his politically sensitive
poems. Distraught and inconsolable, Qu Yan drowned himself in the Mi Lo River in an act of
desperation and sorrow.
Local fisherman raced to the tragic scene
in their long, swift boats. To prevent his body from being despoiled by the
fish, they splashed their oars and beat their drums to disperse them. They
threw rice dumplings wrapped in leaves into the river in attempts to distract
the fish from Qu Yuan. The Dragon Boat Festival,
typically held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar,
re-enacts both the human tragedy and the sense of community that it evoked.
Ancient Ceremonies and
Rituals
Many of the original rituals are still
practiced today at festivals all over the world. As part of the opening
ceremonies, a common practice is to "Awaken the Dragon" by dotting
the eyes of the Dragon's heads of each of the boats. Historically, the Dragon was
the favored symbol of the Emperor, and the best Chinese artists were
commissioned. Shortly after one such artist put the finishing touches on his
work by etching the eyes on his exquisite stone Dragon, thunder and turbulent
weather swept the land. It was believed the mythical beast was
"awakened" and had "come to life" as a result. Also, the
significance of the eye-dotting was to impress the boats and their crews with
the strength of the Dragon and the blessing of the Goddess of the Sea.
Rice dumplings are eaten today as an
important part of the celebration. These packets of predominantly sticky rice,
often with lentils and morsels of meat, are tightly wrapped in leaves and
cooked. These, along with other cultural goodies can be found at many of the
Festivals' food pavilions.
The Dragon Boats - Long, Sleek and Colorful
Traditional boats can range from about 30
to 100 feet in length, with 20 to 48 paddlers, but are only wide enough to seat
two paddlers side by side. Fitted with a carved Dragon head and tail, they represent
the mythical creature itself. The traditional boat is made of teak and can
weigh upwards of 1000 pounds. Modern boats consist of new synthetic materials.
The