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Dragon boat festival
- 1. DRAGON BOATDRAGON BOAT FESTIVALFESTIVAL Organized by the Gita Bayu Residence AssociationOrganized by the Gita Bayu Residence Association Sunday, 9 June, 2013Sunday, 9 June, 2013
- 2. WHAT IS THE DRAGON BOATWHAT IS THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL ?FESTIVAL ? DUANWUDUANWU FESTIVALFESTIVAL, also known as?, also known as?Dragon Boat FestivalDragon Boat Festival ?and the??and the?DoubleDouble FifthFifth, is a traditional and statutory?holiday?originating in China?and associated, is a traditional and statutory?holiday?originating in China?and associated with a number of?East Asian?and?Southeast Asian?societies. In Mandarin, it iswith a number of?East Asian?and?Southeast Asian?societies. In Mandarin, it is known as?known as?Dunw JiDunw Ji; in?Hong Kong?and?Macau, by the Cantonese; in?Hong Kong?and?Macau, by the Cantonese name?name?Tuen Ng FestivalTuen Ng Festival ; in?Hokkien-speaking areas, by the names?; in?Hokkien-speaking areas, by the names?G-?G-? go?eh-chehgo?eh-cheh?(?( ¹¹ ). In 2008, it was recognised as a public holiday). In 2008, it was recognised as a public holiday in?mainland China?for the first time since the 1940s.?The festival has also longin?mainland China?for the first time since the 1940s.?The festival has also long been celebrated in?Taiwan,?Singapore, and?Malaysia. Equivalent and relatedbeen celebrated in?Taiwan,?Singapore, and?Malaysia. Equivalent and related festivals in Asia include the?Kodomo no hi?in?Japan,?Dano?in?Korea, and?T?tfestivals in Asia include the?Kodomo no hi?in?Japan,?Dano?in?Korea, and?T?t ?oan Ng??in?Vietnam.?oan Ng??in?Vietnam. The festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the?Chinese lunar calendar.The festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the?Chinese lunar calendar. This is the source of the alternative name of Double Fifth.?The date varies fromThis is the source of the alternative name of Double Fifth.?The date varies from year to year on the?Gregorian calendar. In 2012, this fell on June 23 and in 2013year to year on the?Gregorian calendar. In 2012, this fell on June 23 and in 2013 on June 12. The focus of the celebrations includes eating riceon June 12. The focus of the celebrations includes eating rice dumplings?dumplings?zongzizongzi,?drinking?realgar?wine xionghuangjiu (,?drinking?realgar?wine xionghuangjiu ( S S ), and), and racing?dragon boats.racing?dragon boats. The sun is considered to be at its strongest around the time of summer solsticeThe sun is considered to be at its strongest around the time of summer solstice ("mid-summer" in traditional East Asia, but "beginning" of summer elsewhere)("mid-summer" in traditional East Asia, but "beginning" of summer elsewhere) when the daylight in the northern hemisphere is the longest. The sun, likewhen the daylight in the northern hemisphere is the longest. The sun, like the?Chinese dragon, traditionally represents masculine energy, whereas thethe?Chinese dragon, traditionally represents masculine energy, whereas the moon, like the?phoenix, traditionally represents feminine energy. The summermoon, like the?phoenix, traditionally represents feminine energy. The summer solstice is considered the peak annual moment of male energy?while the wintersolstice is considered the peak annual moment of male energy?while the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, represents the peak annual moment ofsolstice, the longest night of the year, represents the peak annual moment of feminine energy. The masculine image of the dragon is thus naturallyfeminine energy. The masculine image of the dragon is thus naturally associated.associated.
- 3. THE ORIGINTHE ORIGIN The Duanwu Festival is believed to haveThe Duanwu Festival is believed to have originated in ancient?China. A number oforiginated in ancient?China. A number of theories exist about its origins as atheories exist about its origins as a number of folk traditions and explanatorynumber of folk traditions and explanatory myths are connected to its observance.myths are connected to its observance. Today the best known of these relates toToday the best known of these relates to the suicide in 278 BCE of Qu Yuan, poetthe suicide in 278 BCE of Qu Yuan, poet and statesman of the?Chu kingdom?duringand statesman of the?Chu kingdom?during the?Warring States period.the?Warring States period.
- 4. THE STORY OF QU YUANTHE STORY OF QU YUAN The best-known traditional story holds that the festival commemorates theThe best-known traditional story holds that the festival commemorates the death of poet?Qu Yuan?(c. 340C278 BCE) of the ancient state of?Chu?duringdeath of poet?Qu Yuan?(c. 340C278 BCE) of the ancient state of?Chu?during the?Warring States Period?of the?Zhou Dynasty. A descendant of the Chuthe?Warring States Period?of the?Zhou Dynasty. A descendant of the Chu royal house, Qu served in high offices. However, when the king decided toroyal house, Qu served in high offices. However, when the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful?state of Qin, Qu was banished forally with the increasingly powerful?state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance; he was accused of?treason.?During his exile, Qu Yuanopposing the alliance; he was accused of?treason.?During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of poetry, for which he is now remembered. Twenty-eightwrote a great deal of poetry, for which he is now remembered. Twenty-eight years later, Qin captured?Ying, the capital of Chu. In despair, Qu Yuanyears later, Qin captured?Ying, the capital of Chu. In despair, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the?Miluo River?on the fifth day ofcommitted suicide by drowning himself in the?Miluo River?on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.the fifth lunar month. It is said that the local people, who admired him, dropped sticky hi trianglesIt is said that the local people, who admired him, dropped sticky hi triangles wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river to feed the fish. The rice waswrapped in bamboo leaves into the river to feed the fish. The rice was wrapped so that fish would not eat Qu Yuan's body and eat the ricewrapped so that fish would not eat Qu Yuan's body and eat the rice instead.?This is said to be the origin of?instead.?This is said to be the origin of?zongzizongzi. The local people were also. The local people were also said to have paddled out on boats, either to scare the fish away or tosaid to have paddled out on boats, either to scare the fish away or to retrieve his body. This is said to be the origin of?dragon boat racing.retrieve his body. This is said to be the origin of?dragon boat racing.