Dragon Boating is a centuries old sport originating in China. It is practiced competitively and socially around the world and boast the largest number of competitors of any sport.
Beating drums, timing, rhythm, loud shouts of encouragement, dragon boats rushing by in a whir of colours and a sea of spectators. This is all part of the excitement and action of dragon boat racing, one of the most popular sports in the world today. But where did this sport originate?
As legend has it, the history of dragon boat racing dates back to 4th Century BC, to the Chu dynasty. In a battle to defend the Kingdom against the state of Qin, Qu Yuan, a trusted adviser to the king of Chu, cautioned his king against signing a fake treaty with Qin. However, his advice was used against him by jealous rivals who accused Qu Yuan of treason.
As punishment, Qu Yuan was banished to a remote area of southern China in Hunan Province. There he spent his time wandering the countryside writing poems expressing his love for his country and his people. Later, disheartened at the news of Chu's eventual fall to its rival (the State of Qin), Qu Yuan on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, with his arms firmly clasped around a huge rock, flung himself into the Miluo River.
News of the tragedy spread far and wide. Local fisherman rushed out in their boats, beating their drums and splashing their paddles in an attempt to save Qu Yuan's body from being eaten from fish and water dragons. They scattered his rice on water so that his spirit would not waste away from hunger.
To commemorate this event, it has become traditional to paddle in dragon boats on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This tradition continues today where dragon boating is now a major competition worldwide, with international, national, local competitions and community festivals, like Chinese New Year in Darling Harbour.
