The explanation is this: the boat race on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is undertaken to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan who drowned himself in the Miluo River that day. People sympathize with his death. Therefore they row boats to come to his rescue symbolically. The competitors use light, swift boats which are called “ flying wild ducks”. The two teams in the rowing competition call themselves “ Chariot on Water” and “ Steed on Water”. Prefecture officials and people of prestige all go to the riverside to watch the performance.
(一)
“Zòng” tōngcháng xiězuò “zòng ”. gǔdài rénmen yòng húlú de yèzǐ guǒ zhe huángmǐ zhǔshú, wàixíng shàng yǒu jiān jiān de jiǎo, xiàng zōnglǘshù de yèxīn de xíngzhuàng, suǒyǐ chēng tā wéi “zòngzǐ”, huò jiào “jiǎoshǔ”. Jìndài dà duō yòng nuòmǐ zuò le. Xiàndài de xísú bǎ zòngzǐ zuòwéi yìngjié de wùpǐn, xiànghù zèngsòng, yǒurén shuō shì wèile qūyuán, zuò zòngzǐ tóu dào jiāngzhōng , yòng tā lái wèi wénlóng de.
端午节吃粽子
“粽”通常写作“糉”。古代人们用葫芦的叶子裹着黄米煮熟,外形上有尖尖的角,像棕榈树的叶心的形状,所以称它为“粽子”,或叫“角黍”。近代大多用糯米做了。现代的习俗把粽子作为应节的物品,相互赠送,有人说是为了 屈原,做粽子投到江中,用它来喂蚊龙的。
In ancient times rice dumplings were made from broomcorn millet wrapped in gourd leaves. They had a horn shape like the heart of a palm leaf and were therefore called zong in Chinese, or sometimes, horned broomcorn. In modern times, these dumplings are made from glutinous rice. Now it is customary to exchange rice dumplings as a festival gift. Some say rice dumplings are made as sacrifices to Qu Yuan. People in the past made these dumplings and cast them into the water to feed the dragon.
(二)
Xiàlì wǔyuè chūwǔ zhè yí tiān, jǔxíng huáchuán bǐsài, cǎijí gèzhǒng gèyàng de cǎoyào.
Wǔyuè wǔrì huáchuán bǐsài , zhè fēngsú shì yīnwèi Qūyuán zài zhè yìtiān tóu Mǐnluójiāng ér sǐ, rénmen àilián tā de sǐ, suǒyǐ dōu yòngchuán qù jiù tā. Sài chuán yòng qīngjié biànlì de nàzhǒng, rén men chēng tā wéi Fēifú. Bǐsài shuāngfāng yìbiān zìchēng wéi “shuǐshàng bīngchē ”, lìng yìbiān zìchēng wéi “shuǐ shàng jùn mǎ ”. Zhōujùn de guānzhǎng hé yǒu shēnfèn de rén dōu qù shuǐbiān guān kàn.
端午节划龙舟
夏历 五月初五这一天,举行划船比赛,采集各种各样的草药。
五月五日划船比赛,这风俗是因为屈原在这一天投汩罗江而死,人们爱怜他的死,所以都用船去救他。赛船用轻捷便利的那种,人们称它为飞凫。比赛双方一边自称为“水上兵车”,另一边自称为“水上骏马”。州郡的官长和有身份的人都去水边观看。
On the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year a boat race is held and people gather all kinds of herbal medicines.