Festive China: Dragon Boat Festival

The #DragonBoatFestival is the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

There are many legends about the 2,000-year-old festival, but the most famous one is commemorating the death of #QuYuan, a patriotic poet from the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

Qu Yuan is said to have been loyal and patriotic his whole life. When he realized the decline of Chu was beyond recovery, his remorse knowing he could no longer save it grew stronger and stronger. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, he threw himself into the river and died for his beloved homeland.

Watch this video to learn more about the legend, as well as traditions and festive foods related to the festival.

Festive China is a series of short clips focusing on traditional Chinese festivals and festivities, the cultural connotations of traditional holidays, their development and changes, and how they manifest in today's China.

[mikeyong]

At now we still celebrate The Dragon Boat Festival 🎉

[BloomingStar-qoxu]

Wow great 😃
I am from India and I love Chinese culture ❤

[pauljdavies]

Interesting video, I'm from England and it's good to learn about other countries cultures. We can all learn a lot from each other.

[namelesswarrior]

Traditions binds the country together.

[mjhhkvhj-mg]

The Dragon Boat Festival originated in China, not Korea

[Sichb]

China's culture is really broad and profound.

[alphonsezigirinshuti]

Very interesting story!! I really like Chinese culture

[incendioraven]

For those who cannot understand why Qu Yuan committed suicide, a parallel can be drawn with Stefan Zweig, a German novelist and author of "Decisive Moments in History." Zweig fled to South America during World War II, but took his own life in 1942 due to despair over the destruction of European civilization and culture. He also wrote a book "the world of yesterday" to express his nostalgia of culture and arts of the Habsburg monarchy.

Similarly, over 2, 000 years ago, Qu Yuan faced profound despair when the state of Chu was defeated by Qin, which later unified China in 221 BC. Qin, an unstoppable force, had already conquered three other states before Chu. Different from Stefan Zweig, Qu Yuan is not only a writer or poet, he is also a noble of Chu, a politician of Chu. Quyuan was highly utilized by the King of Chu, but ultimately exiled. Then he saw the destroy of his homeland, and committed the suicide.

Although Qu Yuan was a noble of Chu, his patriotism and literary talent inspired many and earned him lasting admiration for all Chinese and all dynasties. Despite the wars between states two thousand years ago, they are belong to the same Chinese civilization. That is why, Qu Yuan became a symbol of national spirit, being admired by all Chinese descents.

[fearofchicke]

Would someone explain to me where the dragon boats come into the story? I’m don’t see the correlation between searching for a body in a river, dropping food into the river as to preoccupy it’s inhabitant, and racing dragon boats.

Don’t get me wrong; I love racing just as much as anyone else, but why dragon boats, and why not simply drop food into the water?

[ruralcell]

it is called duanwu festival in china !

[adriankt]

This clip is too surface. Dragon boat is an event not a festival. Totally no link

[adriankt]

Is not dragon boat festival.. stop saying that again

[theairisamagician]

why did he kill himself? That’s kinda not smart