Dragonboat Festival

一 端午節 D r a g o n b o at F e s t i v al Ju n e 16 2010 9 am t o 6 pm M acRit ch ie Reservo ir

Duanwu Festival is a festival celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, by countries with significant Chinese population such as China, Taiwan, Hongkong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. There are equivalent festivals held in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, known as Dano, Kodomo no hi, and Tet Đoan Ngo. The festival is sometimes called Dragon Boat Festival or

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Double Fifth.

In 2008, China’s Cabinet, revised the nation’s official holiday schedule to add three traditional festivals, “Tomb-Sweeping Day,” “Mid-Autumn Festival”, and “Dragon Boat Festival”, in response to public demand.

In 2009, China nominated the festival for the UNESCO

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list of “Intangible Culture Heritage”.

The highlight of the celebrations includes eating the rice dumpling zongzi, and racing dragon boats.

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Con tinui ty

Es sence

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Associated with the summer solstice Purpose of obtaining rain Harmonizing the yin and the yang

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故 Story o f Q u Yu a n

trumped-up charges of conspiracy by the jealous court officials. Twenty-eight years later, Qin conquered the capital of Chu. In despair, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River, on the fifth day of Qu Yuan was a loyal minister serving the King of Chu

the fifth lunar month. The people of Chu rushed to the

during the Warring States Period. The king highly

river to try to save Qu, knowing that he was a righteous man.

favored Qu Yuan, causing other officials to be jealous

The people desperately searched the waters in their boats

of Qu’s wisdom. When the king decided to ally with the

looking for his body but were unsuccessful in their attempt

increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished

to rescue him. Every year the Dragon Boat Festival is

for opposing the alliance, and was also accused of

celebrated to commemorate this attempt at rescuing him.

03 Racing Dragon Boats In contemporary folk tradition, locals scoured the river for Qu Yuan’s body, beating drums and racing their boats in the course of their search. Hence dragon boating became a commemorative activity during the festival.

The association between dragons and Duanwu Festival can however be dated much further back to ancient days of dragon worship. Dragon boat racing is the basis for annual water rituals and festival celebration, and for the traditional veneration of the dragon water deity.

Eatin g Ri c e Dum pl i n g s The origin of rice dumpling is said to be a tradition to pray for 传宗接代 and was also used for dragon worship in the past. Qu Yuan’s story narrates that the locals began the tradition of throwing sacrificial cooked rice into the river, hoping that he will receive it. Wrapping a zongzi is a skill, which is passed down through families, as are the recipes. Making zongzi was a family event with everyone helping out.

B a la n cing E g g at Hor s e Hour Another age-old Chinese belief states that the person, who can make an egg stand during the Horse Hour, from 11am to 1pm to be exact, will be lucky for the ensuing year. The standing up egg competition is held during noon in many places.

Drinki ng Re a l g a r Win e The drinking of realgar wine, was regarded as effective in preventing disease or evil. However it is a tonic wine and not suitable for children, therefore adults will wipe children forehead with the wine as they believe that it will make the child healthier.

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Duanwu festival is now an official 3 days holiday where the locals will take time to ponder about what the festival means and in what ways they observe it. It is also a day to

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spread knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, as a healthy lifestyle is the fundamental idea of most of the traditions of the festival.

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Duanwu festival is known as Tuen Ng Jit. It is known as the birthplace for modern dragon boat culture. Every year in either May or June, Tuen Ng Jit dragon boat race features

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some of the best teams from around the world where they will compete in traditional vessels in Victoria Harbour.

A dragon boat race called ‘The World Invitaional Dragon Boat Race’ will be held in Marina Bay, in which teams from all over the world compete. Stalls around the bay sell rice

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dumplings and souvenirs. Dragon boat races are also held more than once annually as a regular sports competition in Singapore.

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05 Impor t anc e

It is important to preserve this age-old culture as culture always unites people. Moreover these traditions make each society unique. Even the same festival can be celebrated differently in different countries, with different degrees of importance.

The traditional festivals, which embody the unique spirit, affections, and feelings of the Chinese nation and reflect Chinese civilization, are an important factor for the promotion of national unity, and solidarity among the people of different ethnicities.

Fert ilit y

Unity

Mo ra l i ty

Skills through generation Masculinity Dragon

Working as a body Heartbeat of the dragon Dragon boating teamwork

Sense of responsibility Qu Yuan’s morals Patriotism

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ancestor / son of ancestors. remembering one’s roots. seed / continuity of descent. building foundation. set free / wrapped by elderly, gifted to young important / food made with deep feelings, unforgettable center / a way to focus one’s feelings multitude / to symbolize unity and strength loyalty / patriotism to the country

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“宗子”也，寓为“祖宗之子”，不可以忘本； “种子”也，传宗接代的品牌，让人以此为本； “纵子”也，往往由长辈亲手包成，赠给后辈； “重”也，深厚感情的食品，多年来，未以忘怀； “中”也，一种中国人所特有的感情寄托方式； “众”也，中国人团结一心、力量巨大的形容词； “忠”也，一种中国人独有的爱国精神

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Another reason why the Chinese have such strong intrinsic values is due to their emphasis on unity. A strong tradition unifies different and even opposing viewpoints.

L o y a l ty Qu Yuan’s spirit shines a brilliant light in today’s society.

He considered the prosperity of his nation and the happiness of his people the most vital thing in his life. He focused on increasing his own moral standards and was never corrupted.

S eed

All Chinese seem to have the same basic values, and no value have been championed more than the family. In ancient China, the view of the family was so powerful, it became intertwined with art, politics and philosophy.

E ssence

众 忠 种

力一 量个 巨专 大们 的用 形来 容强 词调 。团 万结 变一 不心 离、 其 宗 。 爱 国 精 神 , 不 偏 不 倚 之 意 ， 中 心 从 中 。 让一 人种 以可 此以 为以 本此 ，相 不传 能 ， 忘传 本宗 。接 代 的 品 牌

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As compared to a festival like Qingming Festival, Duanwu Festival celebrates the future built upon the past, rather than the source of the past itself. It is a day that adults pass down tales and skills to their children. The essence of Duanwu Festival is to spread the Chinese spirit, tradition and cultures. Derived from the words 种 众 and 忠, is the idea 传宗接代,

continuity of descent.

Patriotism

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/// Designed by Jean Yap 2010