Starting from the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, the Dragon Boat Festival has boasted a history over 2000 years. It is one of the four traditional festivals of Chinese Han nationality (the other three are Spring Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day and Mid-autumn Day). Also, it is one of the few Statutory Holidays in China.
Qu Yuan was one minister in Chu State. He advocated the promotion and education of talents. He advised to make the country rich and to build up its military power. His suggestion of fighting against Qin State as it planned to unify all the states was strongly opposed by the aristocrats. As a result, Qu Yuan was removed from office and exiled to Hunan Province, a frontier of Chu State at that time. He wrote many solemn and stirring poems such as Lisao, Tianwen and Jiuge to call upon the citizens of Chu State to fight against Qin State. However, in 278 B.C., the troop of Qin State seized the capital of Chu State and killed numerous people. Qu Yuan jumped to Miluo River for suicide after he wrote the last poem called Huaisha on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
It is said after the death of Qu Yuan, some fishermen drop the rice balls that were prepared for Qu Yuan into the river so that the fish, shrimps and crabs would not bite the body of Qu Yuan if they were full. On seeing that, people followed suit in succession. In order not to make the rice balls dissolve quickly, people use the bamboo leaves to wrap the rice balls, which was later developed to Zongzi (traditional Chinese rice-pudding).
Later on, it has become the tradition of Chinese people to eat Zongzi on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year so as to commemorate Qu Yuan.
In the history of China, many states swallowed up each other and fought against each other. As a matter of fact, Chu State also desired to destroy Qin State. It was nothing simple like just fighting back the intrusion. Moreover, after the defeat of Chu State, Qu Yuan seriously considered to go to other states. However, he finally chose suicide, for it was always an ultimate method to awaken the recognition of the masses. In other words, Chinese people think the proposal defended by death is right without doubt. Therefore, many Chinese people often resort to suicide to obtain the concern of society when they are encountered with matters the law has no intention for a solution.
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