Legend – According to Chinese legends, scholar and poet, Qu Yuan (屈原 Qū Yuán, 340-278 BC), drowned himself in the Miluo River (汨罗江 Mì Luō Jiāng), in today’s Hubei Province as a result of corruption and uprising during the State of Chu period. In an attempt to search for Qu Yuan’s body, the locals raced out in their boats and threw rice dumplings (粽子 zòngzi), into the water while beating drums and hitting their paddles on the water to steer the fish away from the body. The legend lives on today as a memorial meaning commemorating Qu Yuan, and it eventually evolved into the sport of dragon boating as we know it today.

The Poet – Qu Yuan is known for his contribution to classical poetry and verses, especially through the poems of The Songs of Chu / The Songs of the South anthology (楚辞 Chǔ Cí): The Lament / Encountering Sorrow (离骚 Lí Sāo), The Heavenly Questions / Questions to Heaven (天问 Tiān Wèn), Nine Songs (九歌 Jiǔ Gē), and Embracing Sand  (怀沙 Huái Shā).

Dragon Boat Festival – The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 Duān Wǔ Jié / 龙舟节 Lóng Zhōu Jié / 端阳节 Duān Yáng Jié), is one of the major traditional festivals in China, falling on 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The other major festivals are: Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, Qīngmíng Festival in early April, and Mid-Autumn Festival. On October 30th, 2009, the Dragon Boat Festival was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Customs – Zòngzi, the sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves with various types of filling, is the most important food of the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival was celebrated as a Health Day in the past wherein people would clean their house and take herb water baths. Families would also partake in making and wearing fragrant and aromatic pouches made with silk fabric and colorful threads (香囊 xiāng náng).

Sport of Dragon Boating – The sport of dragon boating as it is today has been one the fastest growing sports with festivals being held throughout continents around the world. The most common boat holds a drummer, a steer person, and up to 20 paddlers paddling to cross the finish line faster than the competition. It is an ultimate team sport with little or no consideration for individuality. Power, speed, synchronization, endurance, and mental focus remain the primary elements of this sport. The most common race lengths are 250 and 500 meters in 4 to 10 lanes, depending on the race. Races are held in four main categories: Novice, Recreational, Competitive, and Specialty.