31/05/2016
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is a commemoration of the patriotic scholar, poet, and statesman Cyu Yuan (circa. 340 – 277 B.C.), who lived during in the Warring States Period of ancient China. During this turbulent period, regional warlords annexed smaller states around them to consolidate their rule. The seven most powerful warlords called themselves kings and tried every means to overtake and conquer one another. Cyu Yuan served the Chu state. Among the seven states, the Chu and the Cin later became the two strongest. Cyu Yuan was originally highly favored by the Chu King, who later distanced himself from Cyu Yuan because of vilifications from Cyu Yuan's political enemies. Cyu Yuan was then exiled. When the capital of Chu was captured by Cin's army, Cyu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River to end his life and to show loyalty to his own political beliefs and also to the Chu king, despite his exile.
After Cyu Yuan's death, the common people organized search parties, rowing up and down the river to find his body. The women wrapped rice inside leaves to throw into the river in the hope of keeping the fish and shrimps from eating Cyu Yuan's co**se. This is the origin of the dragon boat race, while the rice balls wrapped in leaves became the festive dumpling snack called Zongzih. Today people still hold dragon boat races and eat Zongzih during the Dragon Boat Festival. More than just a traditional festive activity, today the dragon boat race has become an international sports event, with teams from around the world coming to Taiwan for the races every year. It is an event of intense excitement, with the colorfully decorated dragon boats, the cheering of the crowd, and the wild beating of the drums to spur the rowers on.
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