The LambCutlet Disorganisation

It’s the 5th day of the 5th month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar and this means the 端午節 (Dragon boat festival) is once again here.

The history of the festival can be traced back more than 2000 years ago to the banks of the life-sustaining rivers in Southern China such as the 長江 (Long River) née 楊子江 (Yangtze River) and the festival is a rite to awaken the 天龍 (Heavenly Dragon) whom is traditionally believed to be the ruler of rivers and seas that dominates clouds and rains. So, venerating the awakened Dragon was meant; by one legend, to avert misfortune and encourage rainfall which is needed for the fertility of the crops and thus for prosperity in an agricultural way of life.

粽子 (Rice Dumplings) are the traditional food of the festival and this too has it’s own history which can be attributed to the famous Chinese patriotic poet 屈原 (Qu Yuan) who lived from 340 BC to 278 BC, during the 戰國時代 (Warring States Period).

Quoting WikiPedia.org:

Qu Yuan was a minister in the government as well as a poet of the southern state of Chu, a champion of political loyalty and truth eager to maintain the Chu state’s sovereignty. The Chu king, however, fell under the influence of other corrupt, jealous ministers who slandered Qu Yuan as ‘a sting in flesh’, and banished his most royal counselor. In his exile, so the legend goes, Qu Yuan produced some of the greatest poetry in Chinese literature expressing his fervent love for his state and his deepest concern for its future. His body of work is contained in an anthology of poetry known as the Chuci or the Odes of Chu.

In the year 278 B.C., learning of the upcoming devastation of his country from invasion by a neighbouring warring state, he is said to have waded into the Miluo river in today’s Hunan Province holding a great rock in order to commit ritual suicide as a form of protest against the corruption of the era. The common people, learning of his suicide, rushed out in their fishing boats to the middle of the river and tried desperatedly to save him. They beat drums and splashed water with their paddles in order to keep the fish and evil spirits from his body, and later on, they scattered rice into the water to prevent him from suffering hunger.

However, late one night, the spirit of Qu Yuan appeared before his friends and told them that the rice meant for him was being intercepted by a huge river dragon. He asked his friends to wrap their rice into three-cornered silk packages to ward off the dragon. This has been a traditional food ever since known as Zhongzi, although the dumplings are wrapped in bamboo leaves instead of silk. In order to commemorate him, people held Dragon Boat Race every year on the day of his suicide.

The boat racing itself has become quite an International sport in the last 25 years adding another 40 million to the 20 million people who already practice it in China. Though having been reminded of 粽子 (Rice Dumplings) and remembering how yummy they were, I do wish I had some with me now! :D Just a pity I’ll probably have to wait till the 11th of June, 2005… the date of the next Dragon boat festival. :(