history
Filled with ceremonial, spiritual, and religious traditions, dragon boating is part of ancient China’s culture. According to some scholars, like George Worcester, dragon boating originated in southern central China more than 2,000 years ago, along the Yangtze River (“Dragon Boat,” 2014). Races are usually held during annual festivals especially in the Chinese traditions of agricultural festivals and gatherings.
One assumption about the early beginnings of dragon boating dates back to an early scholar Carl Bishop, he speculated that an early dragon boating rituals involved drowning as a form of sacrifice (“Dragon Boat,” 2014). Another common speculation about its early beginnings involved Qu Yuan, a Chinese scholar who protested against the government by committing suicide at the river. Upon learning of his attempt, the common people rushed to the water with their fishing boats to try and save the scholar. The splashed water all over with their paddles to keep the fish and evil spirits from eating his body, while beating the drums simultaneously (“Dragon Boat.” 2014) "Dragon Boat." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. |