Chinese Dragon Festival June 7.

[shunyadragon]

I did a lot of research on the history of China when I lived there, and the Dragon festival story is one of my favorite. Every year my wife makes the traditional 粽子zongz of millet or rice mix wrapped in palm leaves.

There are common misconceptions today about the history and origin of the holiday. I may post the full text of my research.

Dragon Festival

By Frank A. Doonan

The Dragon Festival, 端午节 Duanwu Jie or 端阳节 Duanyang Jie, sometimes called the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated sometime in June on fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The origins of the festival are likely very ancient. According to Wen Yiduo 闻一多(1898-1946), a modern poet and scholar this festival had its beginnings over 5,000 years ago in the ancient kingdoms of Wu and Yue located in present day Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. The celebration of this festival was likely inspired as ceremonies, sacrifices and offerings to the Dragon of the Eastern Sea to prevent the floods, drought, and plagues of insects and disease that often occurred around this time of year. The harvest of winter wheat also took place at this time of year, and the ceremonies and sacrifice were also for divine assistance for a good harvest.

The festival and ceremonies were likely held on the summer equinox in the Neolithic and early Bronze Age, and before the existence of the present standardized solar-lunar Chinese calendar. The agricultural calendar of China is still the solar calendar today. In the solar-lunar calendar the Dragon Festival occurs on different dates before and after the summer equinox as the calendar date of the 5th day of the 5th lunar month shifts each year.

This day was considered to be the beginning of an important period in the change of seasons that could make it a bountiful year or a very bad year. It was considered a day that could possibly bring bad fortunes, because of the potential for spring and summer disasters. The purpose of most of these ceremonies was to appease the great Father Dragon of the Eastern Sea and other gods to prevent drought, floods, plague, insect swarms like grasshoppers, and diseases. The throwing of zongzi in the river was originally part of this ceremony. Many of the ancient ceremonies and traditions are still commonly practiced on China, though they mostly do not have the same meaning today. The overwhelming threat of floods, drought, plagues and disease is not as great today. Modern science and technology has replaced these beliefs with alternative solutions to these problems.

Traditionally in ancient times offerings, like 粽子zongzi first described as rice or millet filled bamboo tubes were thrown into the river or sea to appease the dragon. Zongzi is a popular traditional dish eaten all year in South China, and it became the central food representing the tradition of Dragon Festival all over China. It takes many forms and uses different fillings around China, but the most common form is a triangular four point wrapping made of a wide bamboo or reed leaf common in China. The practice of wrapping the zongzi in leaves is said to begin during the reign of Emperor Guangwu (25-26 AD) of the Han Dynasty when Qu Hui saw a man near the traditional site where 屈原Qu Yuan committed suicide on the Miluo River. The man told Qu Hui he was the Minister in charge of three aristocratic families of the Chu Kingdom. He also told him, “It is okay to make offerings in memory of me by throwing packaged rice into the river. In the past the fish ate all the rice in the bamboo tubes, therefore in the future please wrap them in Chinaberry leaves and tie them with colored thread. The fish will be afraid of these two things and will not eat your offerings.”

 

[shunyadragon]

next installment . . .

Today zongzi filling varies, it is common to use white millet called glutinous sweet rice and possibly yellow millet, or a mix of the two. Many still use a short grain rice filling. In the south the zongzi are usually larger and contains salty dried pork, beef or chicken, or a salty egg yolk. In the north they are smaller and may contain Chinese dates, peanuts, walnuts, or other stuff, and they are often eaten with brown sugar. Some eat their eggs before sunrise, and some dye the eggs red.

"Fetching noon water" was the traditional practice of getting water from a well at noon, believing it had special medicinal properties to cure illness, and an egg that is stood on its end at twelve o'clock means a whole year of good luck. Some. Especially children knock two eggs together and whichever one does not break promises the winner good luck, health and fortune.

Rainbow colored decorations and adornments are common today as a part of the festival. The decorations range from simple forms of folded paper to elaborate colorful folk crafts. Many people wear bracelets made of five colors of thread or string on their wrists or ankles. The colors vary but seem to always include red, yellow and blue. Other colors used are white, pink, black and green. In some places the traditional colors chosen are the same as those that are use to paint the dragon boats in the race. These ornaments were believed to offer protection against disease and misfortune. They put these on sometime between the first day of the fifth lunar month, Dragon Festival Day and take them off and throw them into a running stream during the first heavy rain after that day. One story I was told is that the five color thread turns into a baby dragon as it journey’s to the sea. Other colorful items include red or rainbow colored paper gourds, and mythical figures.

Mythical persons also play a role in the festival. Placing a picture of 钟馗Zhongkui, the legendary ghost catcher, on the front door to guard the house is still commonly done today. Small stuffed colorful human figures, and the animals of the Chinese astrology are hung around the house. Monkeys with a club in their hand are especially popular in some areas.

Dragon boat racing is an important part of the festivities, particularly in the south along the larger rivers and in is reality older than the death of 屈原Qu Yuan, whom some believe the race commemorates the search for him after he jumped into the river. It began in the south along the Chang Jiang River and its tributaries, but they are now performed elsewhere in China today where there is a large river. Dragon boats are about 20 to 40 meters long, made to look like a dragon, and painted red, white, yellow, green and black. The races begin with a ceremony honoring the Dragon King.

Other traditions focused on traditional medicines and practices that were intended to prevent or cure illnesses that were common in the summer. The herbs used in this period included wormwood, Mugwort, Artemisia? elsholtzia (Aromatic Madder) and cattail. These leaves are placed around the house usually above doors and windows. Baths, salves and balms using herbal medicines are widely used. Children wear necklaces with bags of herbs. Some use a branch from the peach tree with immature peaches, and sometimes wrap it with the herbs. Other traditions include placing wormwood or mugwort leaves behind the ear before sunrise on Dragon Festival.

 

[shunyadragon]

The traditional 粽子zongzi made today is a three dimensional triangular tetrahedron shape.

 

[David T]

I did a lot of research on the history of China when I lived there, and the Dragon festival story is one of my favorite. Every year my wife makes the traditional 粽子zongz of millet or rice mix wrapped in palm leaves.

There are common misconceptions today about the history and origin of the holiday. I may post the full text of my research.

Dragon Festival

By Frank A. Doonan

The Dragon Festival, 端午节 Duanwu Jie or 端阳节 Duanyang Jie, sometimes called the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated sometime in June on fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The origins of the festival are likely very ancient. According to Wen Yiduo 闻一多(1898-1946), a modern poet and scholar this festival had its beginnings over 5,000 years ago in the ancient kingdoms of Wu and Yue located in present day Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. The celebration of this festival was likely inspired as ceremonies, sacrifices and offerings to the Dragon of the Eastern Sea to prevent the floods, drought, and plagues of insects and disease that often occurred around this time of year. The harvest of winter wheat also took place at this time of year, and the ceremonies and sacrifice were also for divine assistance for a good harvest.

The festival and ceremonies were likely held on the summer equinox in the Neolithic and early Bronze Age, and before the existence of the present standardized solar-lunar Chinese calendar. The agricultural calendar of China is still the solar calendar today. In the solar-lunar calendar the Dragon Festival occurs on different dates before and after the summer equinox as the calendar date of the 5th day of the 5th lunar month shifts each year.

This day was considered to be the beginning of an important period in the change of seasons that could make it a bountiful year or a very bad year. It was considered a day that could possibly bring bad fortunes, because of the potential for spring and summer disasters. The purpose of most of these ceremonies was to appease the great Father Dragon of the Eastern Sea and other gods to prevent drought, floods, plague, insect swarms like grasshoppers, and diseases. The throwing of zongzi in the river was originally part of this ceremony. Many of the ancient ceremonies and traditions are still commonly practiced on China, though they mostly do not have the same meaning today. The overwhelming threat of floods, drought, plagues and disease is not as great today. Modern science and technology has replaced these beliefs with alternative solutions to these problems.

Traditionally in ancient times offerings, like 粽子zongzi first described as rice or millet filled bamboo tubes were thrown into the river or sea to appease the dragon. Zongzi is a popular traditional dish eaten all year in South China, and it became the central food representing the tradition of Dragon Festival all over China. It takes many forms and uses different fillings around China, but the most common form is a triangular four point wrapping made of a wide bamboo or reed leaf common in China. The practice of wrapping the zongzi in leaves is said to begin during the reign of Emperor Guangwu (25-26 AD) of the Han Dynasty when Qu Hui saw a man near the traditional site where 屈原Qu Yuan committed suicide on the Miluo River. The man told Qu Hui he was the Minister in charge of three aristocratic families of the Chu Kingdom. He also told him, “It is okay to make offerings in memory of me by throwing packaged rice into the river. In the past the fish ate all the rice in the bamboo tubes, therefore in the future please wrap them in Chinaberry leaves and tie them with colored thread. The fish will be afraid of these two things and will not eat your offerings.”

How do they know it is 5,000 years old?

 

[shunyadragon]

How do they know it is 5,000 years old?

As with all archaeology and history, they do not 'know,' and I do know of anyone including my research that claim to know. For one thing, Chinese traditional oral traditions are more accurate than in the west recording historical events well before Chinese had written records. Also ceremonial dragon carvings from the Neolithic date from this period indicating the reverence and celebration of the dragon related to this period, and emphasize burnt offerings of pigs, the spring, rebirth and first harvest.They can date within the year the burnt offering of the pig and dragon carvings by the seeds found.

The boar is actually the origin of the dragon as shown in the early carving. The dragon in these carvings is called the Zhu long (Pig dragon).

 

[David T]

As with all archaeology and history, they do not 'know,' and I do know of anyone including my research that claim to know. For one thing, Chinese traditional oral traditions are more accurate than in the west recording historical event well before Chinese had written records. Also ceremonial dragon carvings from the Neolithic date from this period indicating the reverence and celebration of the dragon related to this period.

Well it's an interesting question. I wouldn't doubt that it predates written tradition. I looked up the age of Chinese writings and it places it at about 3200 to 3600 years old. 1000 1600 ce.

There was an article on characters being discovered that are 5000 years old so the statement may be correct based on the dragon character discovered.

If that's true the narrative most likely is much much older all the way back into pre literate history. It most likely is not identical to what the festival is today but I may be extremely old far far older than writing.

We have some evidence of how transmittance of story happens in the Noah's story and back into Gilgamesh. What I contend it's way way older than Gilgamesh all the way back into pre literate history .it certainly has appeared in pre literate cultures. if I am correct good luck understanding it due to morphology.

 

[shunyadragon]

Well it's an interesting question. I wouldn't doubt that it predates written tradition. I looked up the age of Chinese writings and it places it at about 3200 to 3600 years old. 1000 1600 ce.

There was an article on characters being discovered that are 5000 years old so the statement may be correct based on the dragon character discovered.

If that's true the narrative most likely is much much older all the way back into pre literate history. It most likely is not identical to what the festival is today but I may be extremely old far far older than writing.

We have some evidence of how transmittance of story happens in the Noah's story and back into Gilgamesh. What I contend it's way way older than Gilgamesh all the way back into pre literate history .it certainly has appeared in pre literate cultures. if I am correct good luck understanding it due to morphology.

I edited a little after you responded: Also ceremonial dragon carvings from the Neolithic date from this period indicating the reverence and celebration of the dragon related to this period, and emphasize burnt offerings of pigs, the spring, rebirth and first harvest.They can date within the year the burnt offering of the pig and dragon carvings by the seeds found.

The boar is actually the origin of the dragon as shown in the early carving. The dragon in these carvings is called the Zhu long (Pig dragon).

An example of the accuracy of Chinese oral traditions before the written language is the description and dating of the worst catastrophic river flood known found in the earliest Chinese records. The account and dating is accurate when compared to the geologic evidence of the catastrophic river flood.

 

[shunyadragon]

Next installment:

Realgar was believed to be an antidote for poisons, cure for disease, and effective in driving away evil spirits and insects. Traditionally many men drank ‘spring red liquor’, which was white liquor colored with realgar, and it was used to write Wang, the character for king on the forehead of male children. Some still drink this or some variation of traditional white liquor with their zongzi. Unfortunately Realgar is Arsenic sulfide and potentially very poisonous.

In different provinces and cities the Dragon Festival is attributed or celebrated in honor of the death, usually by suicide of a famous philosopher or poet. 屈原Qu Yuan is the most popular in most of China, but in Suzhou the celebration is in honor of Wu Yun 伍員, known under his penname as Wu Zixu or just Zixu 伍子胥or子胥 (~526 BCE – 484 BCE), and in much of Northeastern Zhejiang (Shaoxing, Ningbo and Zhoushan) commemorates the death of Cao E 曹娥 (130 CE - 143 CE).

Later the people of the Chu Kingdom began to commemorate the death of 屈原Qu Yuan (~340-278 BC), the famous poet and advisor to the king during the last years of the Chu Kingdom during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). At about the young age of 36 Qu Yuan became an important advisor in the royal court of the three aristocratic families of the Chu Kingdom. Qu Yuan proposed the development of peaceful relations and alliances with other states in this turbulent period, because the Chu Kingdom was relatively weak. He was opposed by the more ambitious and corrupt Jin Shang, the king’s aide, and Zhenxiu, the Queen’s consort. The honorable devoted Qu Yuan lost favor in the court and he was banished by the king.

Living in exile Qu Yuan wrote many poems expressing his sorrow and distress for declining corrupt state of affairs of the Chu Kingdom. At about 278 BC the Qin Kingdom defeated the Chu and captured the capital. Qu Yuan was heartbroken, because his beloved Chu Kingdom lay in ruins, disgraced and betrayed by the corrupt royal families. In despair Qu Yuan committed suicide by holding a stone in his arms and jumped into the Miluo River near present day Changsha in Henan Province. The traditional belief among the Chu people is that Qu Yuan committed suicide on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This symbolic self-sacrifice by Chu Yuan may have be made at this time in the tradition of Chinese custom to make sacrifices at this time to prevent disasters from befalling the people of the Kingdom. In commemoration of Chu Yuan’s passing the people of Chu continued the tradition of throwing bamboo tubes filled with rice into the Miluo River on Dragon boat Festival Day in memory of him as people all over China continue to do today. Chinese chose this day as a memorial to patriots, because of Chu Yuan’s sacrifice to his country. Today, throwing zongzi in the river is said to feed the fish and/or the dragon to prevent them from eating Chu Yuan.

In Suzhou the festival commemorates Wu Yun 伍員, known under his penname as Wu Zixu or just Zixu 伍子胥or子胥 (~526 BCE – 484 BCE), The reported birth and death Wu Zixu is questionable, because it is claimed he was the architect of Suzhou which was completed ~540 BCE. Wu Zixu was a loyal advisor who feel from grace in the court of King Fuchai and his advice was ignored. As a result the kingdom deteriorated. Wu Zixu was forced to commit suicide by the king Fuchai, with his body thrown into the river on the fifth day of the fifth month. After his death, in places such as Suzhou, Wu Zixu is remembered during the Duanwu Festival to this day.

In most of Northeastern Zhejiang (Shaoxing, Ningbo and Zhoushan) the death of Cao E (曹娥) (130 CE - 143 CE) is commerated instead of Qu Yuan or Wu Zixu. Cao E's father Cao Xu (曹盱) was a local shaman in Shangyu in Zhejiang province. In the year 143 CE, while presiding over a ceremony commemorating Wu Zixu during the Duanwu Festival, Cao Xu accidentally falls into the river. Cao E, in an act of devotion and love for her father searched for him for three days. When she failed to find him or found him drowned commited suicide, and thiee bodies were later recovered from the river. Eight years later, in 151 CE, a temple was built in Shangyu in 151 BCE in honor of the memory of Cao E and her sacrifice. Asmall river flowing into of the Qiantang River is named after Cao E.

Many of China’s traditions, festivals, cultural characteristics, early technological achievements can be traced to the region of Zhijiang and Jiangzu Provinces indicating that it is the likely primary region of origin of Chinese culture and civilization.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stories from my students and friends.

China Radio International, 1998. Cultural Background of China Folk Customs. World Publishing Company, Beijing, China.

Sima Qian. "伍子胥列传 (Biography of Wu Zixu)" (in Chinese). Records of the Grand Historian. Retrieved 30 November 2011.

Xiu Tang, 1988. Traditional Festivities of the Han People of China, What’s New in China Series No. 21. China Reconstruction Press, Beijing, China.

 

[David T]

I edited a little after you responded: Also ceremonial dragon carvings from the Neolithic date from this period indicating the reverence and celebration of the dragon related to this period, and emphasize burnt offerings of pigs, the spring, rebirth and first harvest.They can date within the year the burnt offering of the pig and dragon carvings by the seeds found.

The boar is actually the origin of the dragon as shown in the early carving. The dragon in these carvings is called the Zhu long (Pig dragon).

An example of the accuracy of Chinese oral traditions before the written language is the description and dating of the worst catastrophic river flood known found in the earliest Chinese records. The account and dating is accurate when compared to the geologic evidence of the catastrophic river flood.

Yes the flood stories are indeed related to actual history but the real question why mythology is attached to it ? .It's certainly not science and not related to science not old science even. Our notions as metaphysics as science definitely are derived from medival European universities. AKA my degree the queen of science... theology. is it? NO.

If no, is the answer why the ingrained modern view that old mythology was science? That idea is debunked by it's historical development starting my in my degree.

If yes, is the answer, then your stuck with my degree determining something and factually it determines absolutely nothing. It's not science, or mythology, and generally it's horrid philosophy and garbage art. Generally, but not always, and that's extemely rare.

 

[shunyadragon]

Yes the flood stories are indeed related to actual history but the real question why mythology is attached to it ? .It's certainly not science and not related to science not old science even. Our notions as metaphysics as science definitely are derived from medival European universities. AKA my degree the queen of science... theology. is it? NO.

If no, is the answer why the ingrained modern view that old mythology was science? That idea is debunked by it's historical development starting my in my degree.

If yes, is the answer, then your stuck with my degree determining something and factually it determines absolutely nothing. It's not science, or mythology, and generally it's horrid philosophy and garbage art. Generally, but not always, and that's extremely rare.

Never really claimed science in this context of Chinese history and culture, and yes the dragon is mythology, and in virtually all ancient cultures, including China mixed mythology with history. Though in China there was apparently more of an effort to preserve factual history, first as oral history, and later written history.

My research in this case was focused on the culture of the Dragon Festival, and its history.

As far as the origins of science I also consider Islamic contributions to the origins of science.

 

[shunyadragon]

Yes the flood stories are indeed related to actual history but the real question why mythology is attached to it ? .It's certainly not science and not related to science not old science even. Our notions as metaphysics as science definitely are derived from medival European universities. AKA my degree the queen of science... theology. is it? NO.

If no, is the answer why the ingrained modern view that old mythology was science? That idea is debunked by it's historical development starting my in my degree.

If yes, is the answer, then your stuck with my degree determining something and factually it determines absolutely nothing. It's not science, or mythology, and generally it's horrid philosophy and garbage art. Generally, but not always, and that's extremely rare.

This year my wife made zongzi with millet and black rice. Last year she used dates. She also made tea boiled eggs.

 

[David T]

This year my wife made zongzi with millet and black rice. Last year she used dates. She also made tea boiled eggs.

That alone is the best reason to have festivals! Lucky man although I question her selection in men! And you better chortle at that!

 

[shunyadragon]

Never really claimed science in this context of Chinese history and culture, and yes the dragon is mythology, and in virtually all ancient cultures, including China mixed mythology with history. Though in China there was apparently more of an effort to preserve factual history, first as oral history, and later written history.

My research in this case was focused on the culture of the Dragon Festival, and its history.

As far as the origins of science I also consider Islamic contributions to the origins of science.

There are certain aspects of Chinese culture that demand consistency and order over time manifest in Confucianism, which is the reason for the underlying accuracy of many historical records going back to before written records. I may go into this in another thread. This part of the reason why Chinese writing evolved, but changed little over the millennia. I am able to read the oldest writing as well as the most recent. The oldest Chinese noodles found are 4,000 years old, and have changed little. Chop sticks were in wide spread use at least in the Shang Dynasty (1766–1122 BCE), and possible date back to 9,000 years ago.

What we call Martial Arts today dates back to warrior Arts found in Neolithic cave drawings very similar to the 'Animal Forms' I learned in Chinese Parks. Later Indian and Buddhist forms were adopted into the Chinese cultural forms. I have seen other ancient warrior forms practiced in the Parks. Later what we call Martial Arts is at best an imitation of these ancient arts.

This why I found Chinese history and culture so interesting.