History of Dragon Boating

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is one of the major holidays celebrated in China and the one with the earliest roots in history. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by a day of races in narrow boats shaped like dragons. Competing teams row their boats with military precision to a furious rhythm pounded out by on-board drummers. 

The regatta commemorates the death of Qu Yuan who, according to legend, committed suicide by drowning himself in a river. Qu Yuan was a minister in the kingdom of Chu, located in present-day Hunan and Hubei provinces, during the Warring States period (475 – 221 BC). Upright, loyal and highly esteemed for his wise counsel that had brought peace and prosperity to the kingdom, Qu Yuan was disgraced and dismissed from office when falsely vilified by a corrupt prince. 

Realizing that the country was now controlled by evil and corrupt officials, Qu Yuan leapt into the Mi Lo river, clasping a large stone, on the fifth day of the fifth moon. Fishermen rushed to save him, but failed and his body was never recovered. Thereafter, the kingdom declined and was eventually conquered by a rival state . 

According to one legend, the people of Chu threw rice into the river to feed his hungry ghost every year on the fifth day of the fifth moon, a practice that continues to this day throughout China. The dragon-boat races symbolize the frantic attempts to rescue Qu Yuan.  

Dragon-boats ranged from 50 to 100 feet long historically, with a wooden dragon head attached to the bow and a dragon tail at the stern, accommodating many paddlers sitting side by side. The hull was typically decorated with red, green and blue scales edged with gold. Men standing at the bow set off firecrackers, tossed rice into the water and made believe they were looking for Qu Yuan. An atmosphere of gaiety and excitement was created by all the noise and pageantry. Competitions were held between different clans, villages and organizations, and winners were awarded medals, banners, jugs of wine and festive meals. Modern dragon-boats are 40 feet long, made from fibreglass and have to be approved by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) for dragon-boat racing.

Dragon Boating

NAGA Spirit Dragon Boat Club