From Lament to Celebration: 端午節

Growing up in Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Festival?(traditional Chinese:?端午節; simplified Chinese:?端午节; pinyin: Duānwǔ jié)?was a yearly highlight. This year, the festivities will take place on June 10th, 2024. The Dragon Boat Races will take place June 15-16th, 2024 in Hong Kong:

https://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/what-s-new/events/dragon-boat-races.html.

When we were young, my family would head to Victoria Harbour, where the vibrant atmosphere was contagious. The waterfront buzzed with people eager to watch the thrilling dragon boat races. Teams lined up with brightly painted boats, drummers set the pace, and rowers paddled in perfect unison.

The festival’s history is rooted in the story of Qu Yuan?(Chinese:?屈原; pinyin: Qū Yuán) (ca. 340 B.C.E. - 278 B.C.E.), a poet and statesman from ancient China. Betrayed and exiled, he expressed his patriotism through poetry. When Chu fell to Qin in 278 B.C.E., Qu Yuan drowned himself in despair. The people, loving him for his integrity, searched for his body, beating drums and throwing zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) to keep fish away. This evolved into the dragon boat races.

Renowned artist Fu Baoshi captured Qu Yuan’s spirit in his painting, “The Poet Qu Yuan,” depicting his scholarly demeanor and inner turmoil. This painting, created during another tumultuous period in Chinese history, symbolizes integrity, patriotism, and resilience. Yet, there's a sense of resilience in his stance, echoing the strength found in his most famous work, “Li Sao” ( Chinese: 離騷; pinyin: Lí Sāo; translation: “Encountering Sorrow” or “The Lament”.) This poem is a poignant expression of his love for his homeland and his anguish over its potential downfall. This painting, “The Poet Qu Yuan”, was displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Chinese Art in an Age of Revolution: Fu Baoshi (1904–1965)," January 21–April 15, 2012.

The Dragon Boat Festival features traditional snacks like zongzi (粽子), honoring Qu Yuan’s memory. Children wore dragon masks, adding to the festivity. After the races, families gathered for meals, mirroring the ancient community’s unity. The Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong was a vibrant, communal experience, celebrating Qu Yuan’s legacy and the city’s cultural heritage.