The origin of dragon boat racing
The word dragon boat was first seen in the ancient pre-Qin book "The Biography of Emperor Mu·Volume 5": "The emperor rode a bird boat and the dragon boat floated in the swamp." Preliminary "Nine Songs·Xiangjun" "Driving a flying dragon now in the north" "Zheng, I crossed the road to the Dongting", "The stone is shallow, the flying dragon is graceful", scholars also believe that the "flying dragon" is the dragon boat. "Xiang Jun" is a poem that describes Hunan people riding a dragon boat and sinking jade pendants into the river (similar to throwing a trace into the river) to mourn a certain historical figure. This coincides with the "soul boat" and the image of the Chu State's "Silk Painting of Figures Yulong", which can be confirmed by each other. "Records of the Years of Jingchu" records: "On May 5th, it is called the Yulan Festival... On this day, there is a race to gather miscellaneous medicines." Since then, there have been countless poems, notes, chronicles and other records of the race in the past dynasties. .
Dragon boats are different from ordinary boats. They come in different sizes and have different numbers of radiators. For example, the dragon boat in Huangpu and suburbs of Guangzhou is 33 meters long. There are 100 people on the road and about 80 people on the ground. Nanning dragon boats are more than 20 meters long, and there are about fifty or sixty people in each boat. The dragon boats in Miluo County, Hunan are 16-22 meters long and can hold 24-48 people. The dragon boat in Fuzhou, Fujian is 18 meters long and holds 32 people. Dragon boats are generally long and narrow, with a dragon head on the bow and a dragon tail on the stern. The colors of the dragon head include red, black, gray and other colors, all similar to the head of the dragon lantern, with different postures. It is usually made of wood and painted (it can also be tied with paper or gauze). The dragon tail is usually carved from whole wood with scales carved on it. In addition to the dragon head and tail, the dragon boat is also decorated with gongs and drums, flags or hull paintings. For example, dragon boats in Shunde, Guangdong are decorated with dragon tablets, dragon head and tail flags, handsome flags, couplets, flowers and plants, and umbrellas embroidered with dragon winds, eight immortals and other patterns. Generally, dragon boats do not have so many decorations, and are mostly decorated with various pennants, hanging colors, etc. Ancient dragon boats are also very gorgeous, such as the "Dragon Pool Racing Picture Scroll" (painted by Wang Zhenpeng of the Yuan Dynasty), which depicts dragon boat racing. In the picture, the dragon boat's dragon head is high, huge and spiritual, with exquisite carvings, a high-rolled dragon tail, and several layers of dragon body. Double eaves pavilion. If it is realistic, it can prove the beauty of ancient dragon boats. Another example is "Dianshizhai Pictorial." "Tracing Qu Zi" depicts a dragon boat in Wuhu, which also has a high-headed dragon with a floor above it. In some areas, dragon boats still have ancient customs and are very beautiful.
Dragon boat racing is the main custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. According to legend, it originated from the ancient Chu people who were reluctant to leave their virtuous minister Qu Yuan and threw himself into the river. Many people rowed boats to chase and save him. They scrambled to catch up and disappeared when they reached Dongting Lake. After that, dragon boat racing was held every May 5th to commemorate the event. He rowed dragon boats to disperse the fish in the river to prevent them from eating Qu Yuan's body. The custom of racing was popular in Wu, Yue and Chu.
In fact, "dragon boat racing" has been around since the Warring States Period. Carving a canoe into the shape of a dragon amidst the sound of drums and playing a boat racing game to entertain gods and people is a semi-religious and semi-entertaining program in the ritual. Later, in addition to commemorating Qu Yuan, people in various places also gave dragon boat racing different meanings.
Before the dragon boat race, the dragon must be invited and sacrificed to the gods. For example, the Guangdong dragon boat takes off from the water before the Dragon Boat Festival, worships the Queen of the South China Sea in the Nanhai Temple, installs the dragon head and tail, and then prepares for the race. They also bought a pair of small paper roosters and placed them on the dragon boat, thinking that they would keep the boat safe (which vaguely corresponds to the ancient bird boats). People from Fujian and Taiwan go to Mazu Temple to worship. Some people offer sacrifices to the dragon's head directly by the river, killing chickens and dripping blood on the dragon's head, such as in Sichuan, Guizhou and other areas.
In Miluo County, Hunan, before racing, one must go to the Quzi Temple to worship the god in the poem, put a red cloth on the dragon head, and then put the dragon head on the boat to race, and both worship the dragon. God, remember Qu Yuan again. In Zigui, Qu Yuan's hometown in Hubei, there are also rituals to worship Qu Yuan. The custom of worshiping Qu Yuan is recorded in "Book of Sui Dynasty: Geography": "It gallops quickly, sings and sings, and vibrates the water and land. The spectators are like clouds." Tang Dynasty Liu Yuxi's "Jingdu Song" notes: "Jingdu Song" It started in Wuling, and now it is held in harmony with each other, and the sound of it is: "Where is it?" It can be seen that worshiping Qu Yuan and dragon boat racing are closely related in the two lakes area. Maybe after the death of Qu Yuan (and Cao E, Wu Zixu, etc.), the local people also used soul boats to send their souls for burial, so this custom existed.
Another example is Zhejiang, where dragon boat races are held to commemorate Cao E. According to "Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Women", Cao E died by throwing herself into the river. Folk legend has it that she went down to the river to look for her father's body. Many people worship it in Zhejiang. "Dianshizhai Pictorial: Sacrifice to Cao E" depicts the scene of people in Kuaiji area worshiping Cao E.
The "Qing Jia Lu" records that the ferry race in Wudi (Jiangsu area) originated from commemorating Wu Zixu. Therefore, Suzhou has the old custom of offering Dragon Boat Festival sacrifices to Wu Zixu and holding a ferry race on the water to commemorate it. There are also ceremonies in Guangxi to commemorate Ma Yuan and in Fuzhou to commemorate the King of Hell and Wang Shenzhi.
Various sacrificial and commemorative rituals are nothing more than lighting incense and candles, burning paper money, and offering chickens, rice, meat, fruits, rice dumplings, etc. Nowadays, these bright and superstitious rituals are rare, but in the past, people worshiped the Dragon Temple in a very solemn atmosphere, praying for a good agricultural harvest, good weather, getting rid of evil spirits, warding off disasters, everything goes well, and for safe boating. In people's words, "for good luck" expresses people's inner good wishes.
When the official race started, the atmosphere was very lively. Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Jianfeng's "Song of the Race": "...the robes on both sides of the strait are fragrant, and the silver hairpins shine like frost blades. The red flag opens with three beats of drums; two dragons leap out of the floating water. Thousands of swords fly across the waves, The sound of drums crackles the waves, and the mark is approaching. The two dragons are looking at the mark, and the people on the slope are thunderous. The head of the pole is hung with rainbow lights. The boat in front has won the mark, but the boat behind has lost its momentum. Wai scratch..." These poems vividly describe the magnificent scene of the dragon boat race. Women usually don't go out, but now they are rushing to see the dragon boats. The silver hairpins shine in the sun; the dragon boats under the command of drums and red flags come at full speed, falling like flying swords, and the drums sound like thunder; at the end there are colorful colorful poles. , as a sign. The dragon boat is approaching the mark quickly... The modern dragon boat competition is basically the same, but the rules are slightly stricter. In recent years, international dragon boat competitions have appeared at home and abroad, attracting athletes from all over the world.
In addition to speed competition, dragon boating also has other activities. For example, dragon boat tours involve paddling dragon boats to nearby familiar villages for fun and gatherings during dragon boat races. Sometimes dragon boats also have various patterns of strokes, which have the meaning of performance. For example, in the dragon boats in Guangzhou, people hold hands and insert the paddles into the water, and then lift them up to make the water splash; the people at the bow and stern of the boat rhythmically stamp their feet to press the boat, making the dragon boat rise and fall like a dragon swimming in the water. In some dragon boats in Yuhang County, Zhejiang, people step down on the dragon's tail so that the dragon's head is raised up, and the rapid waves on the bow of the boat spit out from the dragon's mouth, just like a dragon swallowing clouds and spitting rain.
There are also boat races. For example, "Huainanzi·Benjingxun" "Dragon boat with a bird's head, floating and blowing for entertainment" means rowing the dragon boat and rocking the boat to play music and play on the water. "Mengliang Lu" records that "six dragon boats were playing in the lake" in Hangzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty. There are dragon boats on the lake, which are just part of the painted boat cruise.
Emperors of the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties all had the entertainment of watching dragon boats by the water, which was also a game. "Old Book of Tang" records that both Mu Zong and Jingzong "watched the boat race". Volume 7 of "Tokyo Menghua Lu" records the custom of the Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty watching the dragon boat race in Jinming Pond in the Linshui Palace. Among them, there are colorful boats, music boats, small boats, painting cabins, small dragon boats, tiger-head boats, etc. for viewing and playing music, as well as a large dragon boat that is forty feet long. Except for the big dragon boat, other boats lined up to bid and compete for the ferry as entertainment. This scene is depicted in "Jinmingchi Winning the Bid" by Zhang Zeduan of the Song Dynasty. Another emperor of the Ming Dynasty watched dragon boats in Ziguang Pavilion in Zhongnanhai and watched the warriors of the Imperial Archery Prison race horses and shoot arrows. In the Qing Dynasty, a ferry race was held at Fuhai in the Old Summer Palace, and Emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing went to watch it.
There is another night dragon boat. In Wujin, Zhejiang, there used to be dragon boat races at night, with small lights hung on all sides for the purpose of racing. Night dragon boats have appeared in Wutong Bridge in Sichuan since 1982. The boats are equipped with electric lights, fireworks, and floating river lanterns, which are brilliant and dazzling. In a few places in Zhejiang, piles of floating flames are set up on the water to allow dragon boats decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations to pass through the flames.
There is also dry dragon boat racing, which is an activity that simulates dragon boat racing on land. For example, "Nanchang Prefecture Chronicle" records: "On May 5th, there was a dry dragon boat, and several people were ordered to do it (y6, *** picked up things together). The drums were passed down, and the thoroughfares were filled. The ladies gave money to pray for blessings, and competed with each other. Firecrackers are used to ward off bad luck. "In Wuyi County, Zhejiang Province, there was also the custom of launching Dragon Boat Festival boats on dry land, which was also believed to ward off evil spirits. In addition, Foshan, Dongguan and Xinyi in Guangdong have the custom of dragon boat racing on dry land. It is actually a kind of dance, but the date is not necessarily on the Dragon Boat Festival. The dry land dragon boats are most spectacular during the autumn colors in Foshan. Another example is recorded in "Huizhou Prefecture Chronicles": "On May 5th, a boat was used to welcome the gods and drive away the epidemic. The boats were made of bamboo and painted in the shape of a loach. They used twelve human gods to carry them around Xu City." There is also a small drought boat. Dragon Boat makes toys for children.
During dragon boat rowing, there are many dragon-like songs that are sung to add to the fun. For example, during dragon boat rowing in Zigui, Hubei, there is a complete singing style. The lyrics and music are based on local folk songs and chants. The singing voice is majestic and exciting, which is the legacy of "raising each other's bows and making peace". Another example is the dragon boat song in Nanxiong County, Guangdong. It is sung after the dragon boat is launched in April and ends at the Dragon Boat Festival. The performance content is very wide. The Dragon Boat Song, which is popular in Guilin, Lingui and other places in northern Guangxi, is sung by all the radiators during the boat race, with someone leading the call. The content of the performance is mostly related to dragon boat racing and Dragon Boat Festival customs, and the singing is grand and moving.
"Guangxi Folk Music Anthology" contains the Lingui County (4 Dragon Boat Song) Suite. It has a clear and enthusiastic rhythm like a chant, and it must be very moving when sung.
In addition, we should also talk about the female dragon boat . In the past, women were not allowed to participate in dragon boat racing in many places. It was considered unlucky for women to touch dragon boats. Nowadays, women's dragon boat teams appear everywhere, and the heroic women compete for glory and are no weaker than the men. .
Just as there are dragon and phoenix dances during the Spring Festival, there are dragon boats and phoenix boats on the Dragon Boat Festival. The origin of the phoenix boat is as mentioned above. For example, "Tianfu Guangji" records that the court of the Ming Dynasty had a phoenix boat race among the people. "Guangdong Nang" records: "Dragon boats are used to carry officials, and phoenix boats are used to worship the queen. They all have a five-day meeting. In the summer of Gengwu, People from Shiqiao Village in Panyu gathered tens of thousands of gold to build a phoenix boat, which was ten feet long and three feet wide, with its head and tail held high, and its heavy wings on both sides. It carried the temple on its back to worship the Queen of Heaven and travel to various water towns." The phoenix boat race appeared. This kind of phoenix boat has a slightly shorter body, can seat 16 team members, and is decorated with phoenix heads and tails. It is indeed a good form of competition, which means that the dragon and phoenix present auspiciousness.
There are still dragon and phoenix boats in some places. "Shunde County Chronicle" records: "Daliang's dragon sailboats are extremely beautiful." But now they have disappeared. The dragon boats in Miluo County, Hunan, have a dragon head in the front and a dragon head in the back. The phoenix tail is made of bamboo strips wrapped with red paper and inserted into the stern of the boat in a fan shape, like a rectangular tail. It can also be called a dragon and phoenix boat. It seems to be the trace left by the fusion of the dragon boat and the bird boat. < /p>
Dragon boat racing in Jiangsu and Zhejiang also has the significance of commemorating Qiu Jin, a modern female democratic revolutionary born there. The night dragon boats are decorated with lights and colors, and the scenes on the water and under the water are moving and unique. People hold the "Dragon Boat Festival" from the 25th to the 28th of the fifth lunar month to celebrate the success of rice transplanting and wish for a good harvest. The Dai compatriots in Yunnan compete in dragon boats at the Water Splashing Festival to commemorate the ancient hero Yan Hongwo. , the legend of dragon boat racing is different. To this day, in many areas in the south near rivers and lakes, dragon boat races with their own characteristics are held every year during the Dragon Boat Festival.
On the 29th day of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. In 1736, Taiwan began to hold dragon boat races. At that time, Taiwan's prefect Jiang Yuanjun hosted a friendly competition at the Half Moon Pond of Fahua Temple in Tainan City. Dragon boat races are now held every May 5th in Hong Kong.
In addition, dragon boat racing has also been introduced to neighboring countries such as Japan, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. In 1980, dragon boat racing was included in China's national sports competition, and the "Qu Yuan Cup" dragon boat race was held every year on June 16, 1991. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the first International Dragon Boat Festival was held in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, Qu Yuan's second hometown. Before the boat race, the "Dragon Head Festival" was held that not only preserved the traditional ceremony but also injected new modern elements. After being carried into the Quzi Temple, the dragon head was "glazed with red" (put on a red belt) by the athletes. The officiant read the sacrificial text and "consecrated" the dragon head (i.e. lit the light). Then, all the participants bowed three times. The dragon head was immediately carried to the Miluo River and rushed to the dragon boat racing venue. More than 600,000 people participated in the competitions, trade fairs and party activities this time, which was an unprecedented event. Since then, Hunan has held the International Dragon Boat Festival regularly. Dragon boat racing will be popular all over the world.
There is also a legend that a long time ago, there was no river in Zouxi, only a small and dirty ditch. One day, a fisherman netted a small snake in the ditch. This little snake is very strange, with nine shining scales on its tail. When the fishman touched the scales, the snake's eyes flashed with pleading, very pitiful. The fisherman suddenly felt compassion, caressed its scales, and put it back into the ditch. Unexpectedly, the nine scales suddenly fell off, and the little snake grew long and danced, turning into a little dragon. It turned out that it was a divine dragon from heaven. Because it violated the laws of heaven and was punished by the Jade Emperor, it became like this. Nine locks were added to its tail - the nine shining scales on the tail of a small snake. The Jade Emperor once said: "This lock cannot be opened unless a person's yang energy is obtained." Just now, the fisherman accidentally opened the thousand-year shackles on Xiaolong. In order to thank the fisherman, the little dragon kept turning in the ditch, and kept spraying water from his mouth, pouring it into the small ditch. Slowly, the small ditch turned into a big river (now the Qingshui River in Zoewei), and the river water brought abundant harvests to Zoewei. In order to commemorate this dragon, people called the villages along the river Longtou Village, Shanglongshou and other villages. On the day when the dragon ascends to heaven, which is the Dragon Boat Festival, a dragon boat race is held to celebrate.
In 1984, the former National Sports Commission decided to list dragon boat racing as a sports event and held the "Qu Yuan Cup" dragon boat race.
Dragon boat racing has a long history. After being introduced abroad, it was deeply loved by people from all over the world and formed an international competition. In 1983, my country sent a team to participate in the dragon boat competition for the first time and won both championships in one fell swoop. The 1984 International Dragon Boat Races were held in Hong Kong, with 16 teams participating from the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Macau, and Hong Kong. The Chinese team won another championship. Dragon boat racing is relatively common in southern my country and has formed an annual "Dragon Boat Festival". Dragon boat racing is an important activity of the Dragon Boat Festival and is very popular in southern my country. It was originally a sacrificial activity for the Guyue people to worship the water god or the dragon god. Its origin may have begun at the end of primitive society. The dragon boat racing activities during the Dragon Boat Festival in Quanzhou are similar to those in other places, but Chongwu in Hui'an is more special. In the early years, Chongwu also held dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival, but it was different from other places. It was mainly an activity to pray to gods and exorcise demons at sea before the typhoon season was approaching. It is said that due to an accident in a certain year, dragon boat races were no longer held at sea, but on land. During the parade, "A Luo Song" was sung. The general idea of the lyrics was to ask the gods to eliminate disasters. However, this has not happened in the past hundred years. held again. From this point of view, Chongwu's dragon boat racing, dragon boat tours and the custom of "picking lotus" are all forms of dragon worship in folk beliefs, which means to use the power of the Dragon King to avoid evil and disaster and ensure peace.