The Dragon Boat Festival originated in China and has a rich historical and cultural background.
Original Purpose: The Dragon Boat Festival was originally a festival for ancient Chinese people to sacrifice to their dragon ancestors in the form of dragon boat races. This reflects a deeprooted dragon totem culture in ancient China.
Commemoration of Qu Yuan: During the Warring States period, the poet Qu Yuan jumped into the Miluo River to commit suicide on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. Since then, the festival has also been used to commemorate Qu Yuan, who is renowned for his patriotism and literary achievements.
Other Commemorative Meanings: In addition to Qu Yuan, there are also local traditions that commemorate other historical figures such as Wu Zixu, Cao E, and Jie Zitui on the Dragon Boat Festival.
Evolution of the Festival: Over time, the Dragon Boat Festival has evolved from a single purpose of dragon totem sacrifice to include various customs and traditions. It has become a festival associated with disease prevention in summer, as well as a commemoration of historical figures. These elements together form the rich cultural connotation of the Dragon Boat Festival today.