Dragon boat racing is an important activity in traditional Chinese festivals and also a significant aspect of the zodiac Dragon culture. Dragon boat racing has a long history of development, and through its evolution, one can trace the trajectory of how zodiac Dragon culture has influenced people's lives.
Dragon boat racing is an important recreational activity held by the Chinese people around the Dragon Boat Festival, and it has deep historical and cultural origins.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period (770-221 BCE), dragon boat racing began to gain popularity. Images of dragon boat rowing have been found on bronze artifacts unearthed in Yin County, Zhejiang Province, and on silk paintings from Warring States-era Chu tombs in Changsha. Additionally, a bronze drum from a Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE-9 CE) tomb at Shizhaishan in Jinning, Yunnan, features decorative patterns of feathered figures racing dragon boats. These discoveries evoke the spectacular scenes of dragon boat races held on the rivers of ancient Yin County and along the Lancang River.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589 CE), dragon boat racing had already become a nationwide seasonal activity, and by the Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907 CE), it had reached a considerable scale. The Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Jianfeng wrote "Song of the Dragon Boat Race," depicting the scene of the Dragon Boat Festival race in Yuezhou, Hunan Province: "On both banks, silken robes waft fragrance, silver hairpins gleam like frosty blades in sunlight. With three drumbeats, the red flags open, and two dragons leap forth floating on the water. Oars churn waves like ten thousand swords, drums split the billows with a thousand thunders. As drumbeats quicken and the prize nears, the two dragons fixate on the target with focused eyes. On the slope, the crowd roars like a thunderbolt, while on the pole, colorful banners hang like a rainbow halo. The front boat has snatched the prize from the water, while the rear boat, losing momentum, swings its oars in vain." On the day of the dragon boat race, ten thousand people cheer with joy, their voices soaring to the heavens. On the riverbanks, colorful flags flutter and drums resound; on the river surface, dragon boats emerge from the water, breaking through waves and racing at full speed to compete for the prize — truly a magnificent spectacle.
After the Tang Dynasty (618-907), dragon boat racing became a highly popular water performance enjoyed by both emperors and commoners alike. Among the series of water programs performed by the navy at Jinming Pool in Bianliang, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the most spectacular and captivating was the dragon boat race for the championship. For this purpose, a grand dragon boat was specially built for viewing, adorned with gold and splendor, extremely luxurious and extravagant. The emperor would visit Jinming Pool specifically to watch the dragon boat races, as recorded in works such as "Dongjing Menghua Lu" (The Dream of Splendor of the Eastern Capital) and "Wulin Jiushi" (Old Stories of Wulin). During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties, the custom of dragon boat racing was most prevalent.
According to Ming Dynasty scholar Lu Rong's "Shuyuan Zaji" (Miscellaneous Records from the Bean Garden), since the Xuande era of Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty (1426-1435), the emperor and his entourage would go to the imperial palace pond to watch dragon boat races every Dragon Boat Festival. Ming Dynasty scholar Zhang Dai also recorded in his "Tao'an Mengyi" (Dream Memories of Tao'an) the grand spectacles of dragon boat racing at locations such as the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang, and West Lake in Hangzhou.
The Qing court continued the Ming court's tradition of holding dragon boat races. According to the Qing dynasty record "Yang Ji Zhai Cong Lu" (Collected Records from the Studio of Nurturing Auspiciousness), Emperor Qianlong went to the imperial garden to watch dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival, summoning close ministers and princes to join him. A verse from the time reads, "Nine dragon boats in midstream, who would dare to fall behind?" Folk dragon boat races during the Qing dynasty were even more fervent. Gu Lu, a Qing scholar, recorded in his work "Qing Jia Lu" (Records of the Clear and Auspicious) the dragon boat races in his hometown of Suzhou: Dragon boats appeared along the banks near Changmen and Xumen gates, the northern and southern moats, and the waters west of Fengqiao Bridge, each boat flying a different color. At the four corners were flagpoles with banners, and folk performing arts included the tradition of "singing dragon songs before racing dragon boats." Oars were raised and flags pulled, with drummers stationed in the middle cabin and sixteen rowers on either side, commonly called oarsmen. A puntsman holding a long hook stood at the bow, known as the head puntsman. On the bow pavilion, a handsome child was chosen to perform scenes from stage stories, called the Dragon Head Prince. The stern rose about ten feet high, with colored ropes tied to it, allowing children to play in the water, featuring acts such as "The Lone One on the Dragon's Head," "The Child Worships Guanyin," "Pointing to the Sun for Promotion," and "Yang Guifei Asleep in Spring."
Today, dragon boat racing has not declined but has instead grown increasingly popular among people from various regions, showing a strong trend of spreading beyond China to the world. However, fundamentally, there is no consensus on the true origin of dragon boat racing. Folk legends claim that dragon boat racing commemorates figures such as Qu Yuan, Wu Zixu, or King Goujian of Yue. Yet, from the perspective of the historical development of folk culture, dragon boat racing should have originated from the totem worship ceremonies conducted by the dragon totem clans in the ancient Wu and Yue regions.
Since ancient times, people have believed that dragons can protect them from harm and ensure bountiful harvests and peaceful years. As a result, practices such as using dragon boats to please the dragon deity and entice dragons to bring rain emerged. Dragon boat racing is a product of agricultural culture and embodies the faith in farming and harvest. Over a long period of development, dragon boat racing evolved into a folk custom aimed at warding off disasters and epidemics, as well as praying for blessings and good fortune.
Further Reading
The Origin of the Dragon Boat Racing Custom in the Wuyue Region
Dragon boat racing is a traditional custom in the Wu and Yue regions of China, but there are various folk theories regarding its origin. One theory suggests it imitates King Goujian of Yue drilling his navy to defeat the Wu army. Another theory states it commemorates Wu Zixu and Cao E — Wu Zixu was slandered and thrown into the Qiantang River by King Fuchai of Wu, and the young girl Cao E jumped into the river to save her father. Yet another theory claims it honors the patriotic poet Qu Yuan — Qu Yuan, slandered and unrecognized for his talents, drowned himself in the Miluo River, prompting people to race their boats in an attempt to rescue him. Of course, these are merely folk legends. According to renowned scholar Wen Yiduo, in ancient times, people regarded the dragon as an important totem and believed that carving boats into the shape of a dragon could ward off disasters. Over time, this practice evolved into the dragon boat racing that is well-known today.