The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Here are the origins, legends, and a famous story associated with it, all in English:
**Origins:**
The Dragon Boat Festival has a long history, dating back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC). The festival is believed to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a renowned poet and loyal minister of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BC).
**Legends:**
There are several legends associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the most widely known being the tale of Qu Yuan. According to the legend, after being unfairly exiled and watching his nation fall to the rival state of Qin, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest against the corruption and greed of the ruling class.
**Festival Celebrations:**
To prevent fish from desecrating Qu Yuan's body, local people paddled out onto the river in boats and beat drums, driving away the fish. They also threw zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) into the river, as food offerings for Qu Yuan's spirit. The racing of dragon boats has since become a key part of the festival's festivities.
**Famous Story - Qu Yuan's Sacrifice:**
Qu Yuan, a talented poet, was known for his patriotic poems that exposed the corruption within the government of the Chu state. His king, the Marquis of Chu, became envious of his intelligence and had him exiled. Despite his banishment, Qu Yuan continued to serve the kingdom in his heart and mind.
When the Marquis of Chu eventually fell to the Qin state, Qu Yuan was filled with sorrow and despair. He composed his famous poem, "Li Sao," and drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. As the story goes, local fisherman were unable to save him, but they continued to fish on the river for days in hopes of finding him.
The people of Chu wanted to honor Qu Yuan and ensure that his spirit was at peace. They began the custom of racing dragon boats and throwing zongzi into the river, both to pay tribute to the poet and to prevent the fish from disturbing his body.
Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is still celebrated in various ways across China and other parts of East Asia, including dragon boat races, zongzi eating, and the hanging of mugwort leaves and calamus grass to ward off evil spirits.
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