"Dragon Boat Race" is a custom that existed during the Warring States Period. During the Warring States period, people carved dragon-shaped canoes with drums and held competitions to entertain gods and people. At this time, the dragon boat race is a semi-religious and semi-entertainment program in the ceremony.
Sacrifice to Qu Yuan is closely related to dragon boat race in Hunan and Hubei areas. Perhaps after the deaths of Qu Yuan, Cao E and Wu Zixu, local people also used soul boats to send their souls for burial, so there is this custom. But besides commemorating Qu Yuan, the dragon boat race has been given different meanings in various places.
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The competitive dragon boat race was formed in 1970s and 1990s, and its development can be traced back to the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament held in 1976. Since then, dragon boat racing has become a modern sport, and the craze has swept over more than 30 countries around the world. Internationally, dragon boat is basically a competitive sport.
From 65438 to 0980, the dragon boat race was included in the national sports competition in China, and the "Qu Yuan Cup" dragon boat race was held every year. 1991June 16 (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), the first international dragon boat festival was held in Yueyang, China, Qu Yuan's second hometown. Holding the "Dragon Head Festival" before the competition not only retains the traditional ceremony, but also injects new modern factors. ?
The "dragon head" was carried into Quzi Temple. After the athletes "painted the dragon head with red ribbons", the priest read out the sacrificial ceremony and "lit up" the dragon head. Then, all the people who participated in the Dragon Boat Festival bowed three times, carried the dragon head to the Miluo River and hurried to the dragon boat race. More than 600,000 people participated in competitions, fairs and parties.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Dragon Boat Race