×

Loading...
Ad by
  • 最优利率和cashback可以申请特批,好信用好收入offer更好。请点链接扫码加微信咨询,Scotiabank -- Nick Zhang 6478812600。
Ad by
  • 最优利率和cashback可以申请特批,好信用好收入offer更好。请点链接扫码加微信咨询,Scotiabank -- Nick Zhang 6478812600。

Thanks. I'd like to paste it here.

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛The history of Dragon Boad Racing:

An Ancient Legend - Fertility Rites & a Poetic Sacrifice

Myth and legend surround the history of dragon boat racing. It all began more than 2,000 years ago on the banks of the life-sustaining rivers in the valleys southern China as a fertility rite performed to ensure bountiful crops. The first participants held their festivities on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar - what the western world calls the summer solstice. The race was held to avert misfortune and to encourage the rains needed for prosperity. It was also an occasion of sacrifice to the river folk's water deity, the Dragon.

The most venerated of the Chinese zodiac figures, the dragon of Asian is a beneficent creature, unlike its European counterpart. It had traditionally been a symbol of water and is said to rule the rivers and the seas and dominate the clouds and rains. The first races were meant to be mock dragon battles stage to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon. Sacrifices, sometimes human, were made to this being. Even much later, when a rower or an entire team fell into the water they would receive no assistance because it was believed to be wrong to interfere with the will of the gods.

Over the centuries a second story was integrated to give the celebrations a dual meaning. Chinese history describes the fourth century B.C. as the Warring States period; it was a time of shifting alliances and much treachery. In a kingdom called Chu, there lived a great patriot and poet by the name of Qu Yuan. He championed political reform and truth and was much beloved of the people. The king, who had fallen under the influence of corrupt ministers, banished the poet from the kingdom. Wandering the countryside, Qu Yuan composed some of China's greatest poetry expressing his fervent love for his country and his deep concern for her future. Upon learning of Chu's ruin at the hands of a rival kingdom, he leaped into the Mi Lo River, clutching a heavy rock.

The people loved Qu Yuan very much and raced out in their fish boats in a vain attempt to save him. They beat on drums and splashed their oars in the water trying to keep the fish and water dragons away from his body. In the years following his death, to honour his soul and to ensure it didn't go hungry, they scattered rice into the water.

For many centuries dragon boat racing was a violent clash known as the "To Fight and Cross Over" ceremony. Often, the race resembled a naval battle, with crew members of competing boats throwing stones and striking at one another with cane sticks. Onlookers also played an active role, with fans on the riverside cheering their teams and firing stones at opposing boats. In an echo of the more ancient human sacrifices to the river dragon, it was thought to be unlucky if there wasn't at least one drowning.

The multicoloured boats were decorated with ferocious-looking dragon heads, scaly bodies and elaborate tails that rose out of the sea. Crews at one time might have included a hand-clapper to accompany the drummer and as many as four singers. Smaller boats laden with food and wine catered to the competitors.

Certain rituals have developed in connection with the festival, including the "awakening of the dragons" Blessing Ceremony. Priests of the Ching Chung Taoist Church of Canada perform this ceremony annually at the Alcan Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival. Another interesting ritual involved the "five poisonous animals" - the snake, centipede, scorpion, lizard and toad. Red paper is cut into the shapes of these animals, red symbolizing vigour and life, and the shapes are placed in a gourd to trap evil spirits associated with the numerology of the fifth days of the fifth month.

From its beginning as a rain ceremony on southern China's river banks to Vancouver's own multicultural celebration on the shore of False Creek, dragon boat racing and its attendant festivities have changed considerably over the centuries. Today, through continuing such ancient traditions as the Taoist Dragon Blessing Ceremony, we honour what today's dragon boaters like to call "the spirit of the dragon", which is the spirit of coming together and working as a team for a common goal.

In sharing those traditions and celebrating them together with the many solstice festivities of all our cultural communities, we rekindle the spirit of the dragon every June at the Plaza of Nations, Concord Pacific Place and on the sun splashed waters of False Creek.

We trust that the spirit of Qu Yuan approves.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Report

Replies, comments and Discussions:

  • 枫下沙龙 / 谈天说地 / 又到端午节了。可我不明白,有那么多爱国的人,为什么单单纪念屈原呢?我没看出他好在哪儿。
    • It is because Qu Yuan was a "大夫". If he had been a "蔗人", who cares him?
      • 明白了,要尊敬医护人员
    • He is a hero and poet at same time.
      • I am a poet, too. You haven't read my poet in Rolia?
        • Really? I never know that. Could you write one or recite one of your famous poem for us to judge? I guess that is why you catch a MM now. The poem always be the important media of love story.
    • 如果我们记念所有的人就要累死了,总要树典型呀。
    • 因为可以借机吃粽子
      • 吃粽子是为了纪念屈原,让大家记住这一段冤案:屈原其实不是自己跳江死的,他是被谋杀的!他是被人捆得像个粽子似的扔下去的!由于当时新闻悲封杀,老百姓敢怒不敢言,所以做了粽子以提醒后人. 呵呵 :-)
        • ah? shi zhen de ma? :-(
        • 由此想起另一个小吃的来源: 油条(北方人叫果子),园名“油炸鬼“,起源于“油炸桧“。
        • 看了这段,都不敢吃粽子了。我怕我的想象力太丰富,怕眼前的粽子突然变成。。。唉。。找点别的吃来纪念他吧!
        • 还有:屈原本来姓忠,后来被逼至死后,朝挺改成姓奸,以后新闻封锁至今,百姓敢怒不敢言,所以暗地里称之为屈原以提醒后人!啊啊?
    • 过端午节好啊~~,今天就因为这,我们中午不用吃份饭,老板请客,呵呵`~~一直吃到下午2:30..:p
    • "余幼即好此奇服兮,……“ 屈大夫不但是爱国人士、文学家,年轻的时候也是朋克一族嘞。纵观中国历史,有几个能像他呢?
      • 公司老外问中国端午节的来历, 我只知道吃粽子是为了纪念那个投河自杀的古人, 可说不清楚为什么搞Dragon Boat Race, 书到用时方恨少.
        • 粽子是给鱼虾吃的,不让他们破坏屈大夫的肉体。划龙舟是为了救人啊。
          • Hah, I see. My silly question. ^_^
            • Rollor & I want to eat "CONG YOU BING" la. hoho
              • 西西, 没问题. 待我煎一个大大的懒人饼, rollor和david一人挂一个.
              • 我给你烙,可是我擀面杖找不到了。
                • 多谢!多谢!不过,想问问:“在多伦多,那里可以买到正宗的猪板油啊?“
          • 有的史学家经过考证,认为屈原他...
            他风流他倜傥,在楚王和爱妃之间充当第三者。楚王当然不愿戴绿帽,欲除之。于是在汨罗江上,屈原驾船在前面跑,楚王派的职业杀手在后面驾船追。追上了。屈原被捆得象一个粽子,投入江中。而龙舟赛,生动再现了这一段历史。
            教训:第三者做不得。
            • MD, this historian is not a 正经鸟 either.
        • 可参阅 www.canadadragonboat.com under " history "
          • Thanks. I'd like to paste it here.
            本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛The history of Dragon Boad Racing:

            An Ancient Legend - Fertility Rites & a Poetic Sacrifice

            Myth and legend surround the history of dragon boat racing. It all began more than 2,000 years ago on the banks of the life-sustaining rivers in the valleys southern China as a fertility rite performed to ensure bountiful crops. The first participants held their festivities on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar - what the western world calls the summer solstice. The race was held to avert misfortune and to encourage the rains needed for prosperity. It was also an occasion of sacrifice to the river folk's water deity, the Dragon.

            The most venerated of the Chinese zodiac figures, the dragon of Asian is a beneficent creature, unlike its European counterpart. It had traditionally been a symbol of water and is said to rule the rivers and the seas and dominate the clouds and rains. The first races were meant to be mock dragon battles stage to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon. Sacrifices, sometimes human, were made to this being. Even much later, when a rower or an entire team fell into the water they would receive no assistance because it was believed to be wrong to interfere with the will of the gods.

            Over the centuries a second story was integrated to give the celebrations a dual meaning. Chinese history describes the fourth century B.C. as the Warring States period; it was a time of shifting alliances and much treachery. In a kingdom called Chu, there lived a great patriot and poet by the name of Qu Yuan. He championed political reform and truth and was much beloved of the people. The king, who had fallen under the influence of corrupt ministers, banished the poet from the kingdom. Wandering the countryside, Qu Yuan composed some of China's greatest poetry expressing his fervent love for his country and his deep concern for her future. Upon learning of Chu's ruin at the hands of a rival kingdom, he leaped into the Mi Lo River, clutching a heavy rock.

            The people loved Qu Yuan very much and raced out in their fish boats in a vain attempt to save him. They beat on drums and splashed their oars in the water trying to keep the fish and water dragons away from his body. In the years following his death, to honour his soul and to ensure it didn't go hungry, they scattered rice into the water.

            For many centuries dragon boat racing was a violent clash known as the "To Fight and Cross Over" ceremony. Often, the race resembled a naval battle, with crew members of competing boats throwing stones and striking at one another with cane sticks. Onlookers also played an active role, with fans on the riverside cheering their teams and firing stones at opposing boats. In an echo of the more ancient human sacrifices to the river dragon, it was thought to be unlucky if there wasn't at least one drowning.

            The multicoloured boats were decorated with ferocious-looking dragon heads, scaly bodies and elaborate tails that rose out of the sea. Crews at one time might have included a hand-clapper to accompany the drummer and as many as four singers. Smaller boats laden with food and wine catered to the competitors.

            Certain rituals have developed in connection with the festival, including the "awakening of the dragons" Blessing Ceremony. Priests of the Ching Chung Taoist Church of Canada perform this ceremony annually at the Alcan Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival. Another interesting ritual involved the "five poisonous animals" - the snake, centipede, scorpion, lizard and toad. Red paper is cut into the shapes of these animals, red symbolizing vigour and life, and the shapes are placed in a gourd to trap evil spirits associated with the numerology of the fifth days of the fifth month.

            From its beginning as a rain ceremony on southern China's river banks to Vancouver's own multicultural celebration on the shore of False Creek, dragon boat racing and its attendant festivities have changed considerably over the centuries. Today, through continuing such ancient traditions as the Taoist Dragon Blessing Ceremony, we honour what today's dragon boaters like to call "the spirit of the dragon", which is the spirit of coming together and working as a team for a common goal.

            In sharing those traditions and celebrating them together with the many solstice festivities of all our cultural communities, we rekindle the spirit of the dragon every June at the Plaza of Nations, Concord Pacific Place and on the sun splashed waters of False Creek.

            We trust that the spirit of Qu Yuan approves.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
    • 很残愧, 知道端午节的来历, 却不知"端午"二字为何意. 有谁知到此二字的典故?
      • "端”的意思和“初”相同,称“端五”也就如称“初五”;端五的“五”字又与“午”相通,按地支顺序推算,五月正是“午”月。又因午时为“ 月五日,月、日都是五,故称重五,此外,端午还有许多别称,如:夏节、浴兰节、女儿节,天中节、地腊、等等。
        • 真够专业的!!!
        • 我要改名,只羡holly不作仙
    • 屈原是个同性恋者
      屈原是个同性恋者,这一点再明白不过了,而且屈原自己就说的非常清楚。只是千百年来,大家猪油焖了心,没有明白而已。你看看楚辞,什么美人、兰花等,就是屈原自己。实际情况是:楚王又有了新的男朋友(BF),抛弃了屈原,屈原委委屈屈偷江殉情了。大家看几千年,谁的文学作品像屈原那么奇怪?实际上屈原自己没有隐瞒,只是大家会错了意。像郭沫若之流,硬说兰花什么花代表忠臣奸臣等,牵强附会。