What's the significance of rowing a dragon boat on the Dragon Boat Festival?

Dragon boat racing has been a custom since the Warring States period. People carve dragon-shaped canoes and play racing games to entertain gods and musicians. At this time, the dragon boat race is a semi-religious and semi-entertainment program in the ceremony.

Sacrifice to Qu Yuan is closely related to dragon boat race in Hunan and Hubei areas. Perhaps after the deaths of Qu Yuan, Cao E and Wu Zixu, local people also used soul boats to send their souls for burial, so there is this custom. But besides commemorating Qu Yuan, the dragon boat race has been given different meanings in various places.

Before the dragon boat race, various sacrificial ceremonies and commemorative ceremonies will be held. Generally speaking, incense sticks are lit and paper money is burned, offering sacrifices for chicken, rice, meat, fruit, zongzi and so on. Nowadays, these superstitious ceremonies are rare, but in the past, when people sacrificed to the Dragon Palace, the atmosphere was very serious. They prayed for a bumper harvest in agriculture and good weather to express people's good wishes.

Extended data:

To commemorate Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan was a minister in Chu Huaiwang during the Spring and Autumn Period. He advocated prospering talents and empowering the people, being rich and uniting against Qin, which was strongly opposed by the nobles. Qu Yuan was forced to leave his post, was driven out of the capital and exiled to Yuanshui and Xiangjiang River basins. Later, he threw himself into the Miluo River and died.

Legend has it that after Qu Yuan's death, the people of Chu were so sad that they flocked to the Miluo River to pay homage to Qu Yuan. The fisherman paddled the boat and fished for his real body back and forth on the river. They rushed to catch up, and when they reached Dongting Lake, there was no trace. Then they row dragon boats on May 5th every year to commemorate it, so as to disperse the fish in the river and prevent them from eating Qu Yuan's body.

In Miluo City, Hunan Province, before the dragon boat race, you should go to Quzi Temple to worship the dragon head, put red cloth on the dragon head, and then race the boat, which is not only to worship the dragon god, but also to commemorate Qu Yuan.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-Dragon Boat Race