Who is the Dragon Boat Festival held in memory of?
Remembering Qu YuanFirstly, most people believe that the Dragon Boat Festival is held in memory of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a statesman and literary figure from the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period. He had a strong desire to serve his country and great ambitions. However, the King of Chu at the time, King Huai, was foolish and listened to slander, refusing to accept Qu Yuan's beneficial political ideas. In addition, he was also persecuted by his colleagues. Feeling that there was no way to serve his country, Qu Yuan jumped into the Miluo River. Since then, people have used the Dragon Boat Festival to remember Qu Yuan.
Remembering Wu Zixu
Some people also say that the Dragon Boat Festival was actually held in memory of Wu Zixu. Wu Zixu was originally from the State of Chu, but his father and elder brother were both killed by the King of Chu. Later, Wu Zixu fled to the State of Wu and together with the King of Wu, they attacked Chu. Later, the King of Wu listened to false accusations and ordered Wu Zixu to commit suicide with a sword. Then he threw Wu Zixu's body into the river. The people later held the Dragon Boat Festival to remember Wu Zixu.
Remembering Cao E
Cao E was the most famous filial daughter in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Her father accidentally fell into the river and drowned. At only 14 years old, Cao E stayed by the river for several days without seeing her father's body. Then, on the seventeenth day after her father's death, which was the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Cao E jumped into the river to follow her father. Five days later, Cao E and her father's body floated to the shore together. People held the Dragon Boat Festival every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to remember this filial daughter.
Why don't we say "Happy Dragon Boat Festival"?
The Dragon Boat Festival is on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, marking the beginning of summer (the fifth month). Ancient people described this time as an "evil month" and an "evil day," saying that all the five poisons would appear, so there were various customs to seek safety and ward off disasters. During the summer season, the weather is hot, and people are prone to illness, and epidemics are likely to spread. In addition, snakes and insects reproduce, which can bite people, so special care must be taken.On this day, people usually do three things: first, eat "five yellows," meaning foods with the word "yellow" in their names, symbolizing "connecting" during the time when green and yellow crops are not yet available. There is also a custom of drinking realgar wine, as an ancient saying goes, "After drinking realgar wine, diseases will stay away." Second, tie gourds and brooms, hang pictures of the five poisons. Third, collect wormwood and insert the whole plant on the door. In folk traditions, children wear five-color ropes, hang small red peppers, wear tiger shoes, and write the character "Wang" (king) on their heads. All these customs have the meaning of driving away disasters and epidemics, seeking health and good fortune.
From this perspective, the Dragon Boat Festival was an important time in ancient times for disease prevention and control, similar to today's "public health day." Therefore, it is more appropriate to say "Dragon Boat Blessings" or "Dragon Boat Health."
"Three parts fate, seven parts luck." Fate has its nobility and humility, and luck has its good and bad.
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