The dragon boat race in Miluo City, Hunan Province is a custom formed to commemorate the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan. In 278 BC, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Qu Yuan was filled with hatred and threw himself into the Miluo River. People took this day as the anniversary of Qu Yuan. The dragon boat here is the most authentic dragon boat and has historical significance.
2. Hangzhou Zhejiang
The custom of dragon boat race in Qiantang River has a long history, which is recorded in the ancient book "Hangzhou Fuzhi". This activity was set up in memory of Wu Zixu, the general of the State of Wu.
3. Erhai Lake in Yunnan
There is also a legend about the dragon boat race in Erhai Lake, Yunnan Province: It is said that during Nanzhao period, a python suddenly appeared in Erhai Lake, specializing in eating people and animals. Later, a soldier Duan Chicheng took a 12 steel knife to kill the people, but it was swallowed by the python, so he stabbed the python in the stomach with a steel knife. Later, the python was stabbed to death, and he disappeared in Erhai Lake, so the locals sailed for salvage.
4. Wuhan Hanjiang River
The dragon boat race on the Hanjiang River in Wuhan is also to commemorate Qu Yuan. Because Qu Yuan wandered on the Hanjiang River during his exile, there was also a spread of dragon boat race around the river in the afternoon. According to Chu custom, Qu Yuan was hanged.
5. Wanxian County, Sichuan
The dragon boat race in Wanxian county of the Yangtze River was also set up to commemorate Qu Yuan. The dragon boat can accommodate seventy or eighty people. At the beginning of the dragon boat race, the drums are loud, and the rowing range moves with the drums. It's very lively, and people come here to watch the dragon boat race every year.
6. Yunnan Dehong
The dragon boat race here is to commemorate a local hero. It is said that Yan Hongwo, a Dai hero in Yunnan, was born upright and devoted himself to defending the poor family. Later, he died because he was dissatisfied with power and tyranny. To commemorate him, the local people held a dragon boat race on the fifth day of May to commemorate this hero.
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The origin story of dragon boat race:
Legend has it that after Qu Yuan's death, the people of Chu were so sad that they flocked to the Miluo River to pay homage to Qu Yuan. The fisherman paddled the boat and fished for his real body back and forth on the river. They rushed to catch up with each other and disappeared at Dongting Lake. After that, I will row a dragon boat on May 5th every year to commemorate it. Rowing a dragon boat to disperse the fish in the river so as not to eat Qu Yuan's body.
In Miluo City, Hunan Province, before the dragon boat race, you must go to Quzi Temple to worship the Weng God in the temple, wrap red cloth around the dragon head, and then race the boat, which is not only to worship the dragon god, but also to commemorate Qu Yuan. In Zigui, Hubei, Qu Yuan's hometown, there is also a ceremony to worship Qu Yuan.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Dragon Boat Race