According to legend, Qu Yuan advocated the promotion of talents, enriched the country and strengthened the army, and advocated uniting Qi to resist Qin. However, he was strongly opposed by the nobleman Zilan and others. Qu Yuan was dismissed from his post, expelled from the capital, and exiled to Yuan. , Xiang River Basin.
While in exile, he wrote poems such as "Li Sao", "Heavenly Questions" and "Nine Songs" that were concerned about the country and the people. In 278 BC, the Qin army captured Kyoto, the state of Chu. Qu Yuan saw his homeland being invaded and was heartbroken, but he still could not bear to abandon his homeland. On May 5, after writing his final work "Huaisha" , bouldering into the Miluo River and committing suicide, composing a magnificent patriotic movement with his own life.
After Qu Yuan threw himself into the river, local people immediately rowed boats to rescue him after hearing the news... In order to express their grief, people went boating on the rivers, and then it gradually developed into dragon boat racing. The people were afraid that the fish in the river would eat his body, so they went home and brought rice balls and threw them into the river to prevent the fish and shrimp from destroying Qu Yuan's body. Later, it became a custom to eat rice dumplings.
Extended information:
The Dragon Boat Festival is a very popular and grand folk festival in China. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the ancients celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival with lively dragon boat performances and joyful food banquets. Ancient documents recorded many celebrations of the Dragon Boat Festival. Many ancient people described the joyful festive atmosphere of the Dragon Boat Festival in their poems.
Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival has been a traditional habit of the Chinese people since ancient times. Due to the vast territory, numerous ethnic groups, and many stories and legends, not only have there been many different festival names, but there are also endless festivals in various places. Same custom. There are many customs during the Dragon Boat Festival. Although the methods of celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival vary from place to place, dragon boat riding and rice dumpling eating are common customs. Inherited to this day, various customary activities during the Dragon Boat Festival are still very popular.
Every year before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, many special festival activities such as making rice dumplings, hanging mugwort and calamus, riding dragon boats, worshiping nine lions and elephants, and swimming dragons are held all over the country. They include both traditional customs and activities. There are innovative elements, which can be described as unique and colorful.
Through the performance of traditional folk activities, the Dragon Boat Festival can not only enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the masses, but also inherit and promote traditional culture
Baidu Encyclopedia - Dragon Boat Festival