A History of Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon boat racing began more than 2000 years ago on the banks of the life-sustaining rivers in the valleys of southern China as a fertility rite to ensure plentiful crops. The first participants were superstitious and held their own celebration on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. This time of year was traditionally associated with disease and death – a dark and evil time. The race was held to avert misfortune and encourage the rains needed for prosperity – and the object of their worship was the dragon.
The most venerated of Chinese zodiac deities, the dragon of Asia, has traditionally been a symbol of water. It is said to rule the rivers and seas and dominate the clouds and rains. The first races were meant to imitate dragon battles staged in order to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon. Sacrifices were made to the dragon sorcerers. Humans, the cleverest and most powerful of all beings, were the original sacrifices. Even much later, when a rower or an entire team fell into the water, they would receive no assistance because it was believed to be wrong to interfere with the will of the gods.
Over the years a second story was integrated to give the festival a dual meaning – the touching saga of Qu Yuan. Chinese history describes the fourth century BC as the Warring States period – a time of shifting alliances and much treachery. Qu Yuan (340 – 278 BC.) was a poet, and an advisor to the King of Chu. He was exiled after a misunderstanding involving the neighbouring State of Qin. On one occasion, when troops from the state of Zhao had been divided by a strategic Qin manoeuvre, they surrendered on the trust that their lives would be spared. Instead, the Qin army slaughtered the 450,000 Zhao troops by burying them alive. The state of Qin, determined to conquer Chu, drew up a fake treaty, which it encouraged the King of Chu to sign. Qu Yuan, one of the most trusted advisers in Chu, cautioned the King against signing. However, the King misinterpreted Qu Yuan’s intentions and thought he was attempting to assume greater political power. As punishment, he banished Qu Yuan from the Kingdom. Humiliated and in anguish over living in exile, Qu Yuan wandered the countryside. He composed some of China’s greatest poetry expressing his fervent love and his deep concern for his country and its people. When he learnt Chu had been devastated at the hands of a Qin, he leaped into the Mi Lo river holding a great rock in a display of his heartfelt sorrow.
As news of his suicide reached the villagers, they immediately took to their boats. They beat drums to frighten the fish and water dragons away and prevent them from eating the body of their fallen poet. To nourish his weakened spirit, villagers also began throwing bags of rice into the river. Both the act of beating drums and throwing rice to feed Qu Yuan’s spirit are traditions that have carried through to today’s dragon boat races. And, if you listen closely, on a cold, peaceful morning legend says you can still hear the soft voice of the great Qu Yuan saying, “Paddle through the wake”.
To commemorate the day when people rushed out to the river to rescue Qu Yuan, people living in South China made it an annual event to race boats. Since then, the Chinese tradition of dragon boat racing has come to memorialise the noble spirit of Qu Yuan. He is remembered for his self-sacrifice, his steadfast morality, the power of his writing, and his concern for his fallen countrymen. Many of the boats were decorated with the heads of dragons on the bows. Later they were given the name dragon boats, and the event was termed dragon boat racing.
For many centuries, dragon boat racing was a violent clash known as the ‘To Fight and Cross Over’ ceremony. Often, the race resembled a naval battle, with crews of competing boats throwing stones and striking one another with cane sticks. Onlookers played an active role in the race. Fans on riverside would cheer and give gifts of red and green silk to the boat from their region but would greet opposing boats with angry shouts and a hail of stones. It was thought unlucky if that least one drowning did not occur!
Dragon boat racing is now a popular team event and the Severn Hospice Festival has become a popular part of the summer season in Shrewsbury.
Information provided by Dragon Boat Events Ltd who provide the boats and expertise at the Severn Hospice Dragon Boat Festival.
If you would like to register for the 2010 event click here.
