According to the Records of the Grand Historian (史记), Qu Yuan was a minister of King Huai of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period. He advocated for the promotion of the virtuous and the capable, the enrichment of the country and the strengthening of the army, and advocated for the alliance of Qi against Qin, which was strongly opposed by the aristocrat Zilan and others, Qu Yuan was gluttonously dismissed from his post, driven out of the capital city, and exiled to the Yuan and Xiang basins. During his exile, he wrote such immortal poems as "Li Sao", "Heavenly Questions" and "Nine Songs", which are unique and far-reaching (thus, the Dragon Boat Festival is also known as the Poets' Festival). In 278 B.C., the Qin army attacked the capital of Chu. Qu Yuan saw his motherland being invaded, and his heart was cut to pieces, but he could not bear to give up his motherland, and on the 5th of May, after writing his final poem "Huai Sha", he threw himself into Miluo River and died, composing a magnificent patriotic movement with his own life.
Legend has it that after Qu Yuan's death, the people of Chu were in mourning and flocked to the Miluo River to pay homage to him. Fishermen rowed up their boats and salvaged his real body back and forth on the river. A fisherman took out for Qu Yuan prepared rice balls, eggs and other food, "flop, flop" thrown into the river, said that the fish and lobsters and crabs eat enough, will not go to bite the body of Dr. Qu. People see have followed suit. An old physician to bring a altar of yellow wine poured into the river, said to be drug stunned dragon water beasts, so as not to harm Dr. Qu. Later, for fear of rice balls for the dragon to eat, people came up with a neem leaf wrapped in rice, wrapped in colorful silk, developed into a brown.
Later, on the fifth day of May every year, there is a dragon boat race, eat zongzi, drink xionghuang wine custom; in order to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.
Hangzhou proverb: "May 5, andrographis burned wine over the Dragon Boat Festival." Folk on this day will be bushy roots cut fine, sun in, mixed with a little andrographis, dip white wine, there is also a separate use of andrographis soaked in wine, so the name "andrographis wine". Folk believe that andrographis can drive away demons and evil spirits, the formation of the Dragon Boat Festival drink andrographis custom. At the same time, but also to smear children's cheeks, ears and nose, or in the corner of the forehead to write a "king" word, compared to the tiger, to Wei evil. Folk will also eat the leftover andrographis wine sprayed houses corner of the dark place, or stored up, in case of insect bites and swelling, can be coated with detoxification and swelling. There are wells in the family, but also a piece of yellow, wrapped in silk, into the well, in order to get rid of the poison in the water.
Legend has it that after Qu Yuan threw himself into the river, the people in his hometown in order to prevent the dragon from eating Qu Yuan's remains, they have put the dumplings, salted eggs into the river. An old doctor to bring a altar of yellow wine poured into the river, said the medicine can be stunned fish and dragons, to protect Qu Yuan. A moment, the water really floating a dragon. So, people pulled the dragon to shore, its tendons, skin, and then the dragon tendons wrapped around the wrists and necks of children, and then wipe the seven orifices with andrographis wine, thinking that this will make the children from insects and snakes. This is said to be the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival drinking Xionghuang wine. So far, many places in China have the habit of drinking Xionghuang wine.