BriefIntroductiontoDragonBoatFestival

Officiallyfallingonthefifthdayofthefifthlunarmonth,theDragon BoatFestivalisalsoknownasDoubleFifthDay.Whilemanystoriesregarding itsoriginabound,themostpopularandwidelyacceptedversionregardsQuYuan, aministerduringtheWarringStatesPeriod(475-221BC)

LegendoftheDragonBoatFestival‘sOrigin

AttheendoftheZhouDynasty,theareawenowknowasChinahadfallen intoastateoffragmentationandconflict.WhiletheZhoudynastyhadruledfor severalcenturies,severalotherstates,originallyfeudaldomains,triedto carveouttheirownkingdoms.ThestateofQinwouldeventuallyemergethe victorandunifyallofChinaunderoneruleforthefirsttimeinhistory.

QuYuanservedasministertotheZhouEmperor.Awiseandarticulateman, hewaslovedbythecommonpeople.Hedidmuchtofightagainsttherampant corruptionthatplaguedthecourt--therebyearningtheenvyandfearofother officials.Therefore,whenheurgedtheemperortoavoidconflictwiththeQin Kingdom,theofficialsPssuredtheEmperortohavehimremovedfromservice. Inexile,hetraveled,taughtandwroteforseveralyears.HearingthattheZhou hadbeendefeatedbytheQin,hefellintodespairandthrewhimselfintothe MilouRiver.Hislastpoemreads: