Dragon-Boat Race（1）

赛龙舟（1）

Dragon-boat, as the term suggests, is a boat carved like a dragon.

龙舟, 顾名思义, 是雕刻成龙型的船只。

Dragon-boat race has a long history, and it is held annually on the Dragon-boat Festival, namely the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

赛龙舟在中国有着悠久的历史, 在每年的端午节—农历五月初五进行。

Different sayings about the origin of the Dragon-boat Race，

赛龙舟起源众说纷纭，

There have been different sayings about the origin of the Dragon-boat Race in Chinese history.

有关赛龙舟的起源的说法一直是众说不一。

Someone holds that the race is to memorize Qu Yuan, a famous writer, a man of Chu in the period of the Warring States.

有人认为龙舟竞渡是为了纪念中国历上的屈原。屈原是战国时期楚国人, 中国历史上著名的文学家。

He had been a senior official, but hated the crafty sycophants who were in the important positions, so he was squeezed out by them and exiled.

曾位居高官, 但因痛恨奸佞小人当道, 受奸臣排挤而遭流放。

He plunged into the River of Miluo and was drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 278BC.

于公元前278年五月初五投汨罗江而死。

It is said that the local people organized spontaneously to rescue him by rowing boats.

据说, 当屈原死后, 当地民众自发组织起来, 竞相划船营救。

This action has become a common practice and developed into the Dragon-boat sports.

此举相沿成习发展成了龙舟竞渡活动。

Another version is related to Wu Zixu in Chinese history.

另一种说法是有关中国历史上的伍子胥。

Wu Zixu was a minister of Wu state during the Spring and Autumn Period.

伍子胥是中国春秋时期吴国大臣，

He was killed by the crafty sycophants because of his loyalty to the country and the king.His body was packed up and thrown into the river.

他因为忠于国家、忠于皇帝而遭奸佞之臣陷害而被杀害。尸体被裹起来投人江中。

In memory of Wu Zixu, the mass in Wu state respected him as the Wave God and welcomed the coming of him on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month annually.

吴国百姓为了纪念伍子胥, 奉他为波神, 并于每年的农历五月初五举行龙舟竞赛来迎接波神。如此说法不一而足。

However, people have the general agreement about the saying of Qu Yuan because he had greater influence in Chinese history.

但是, 对于纪念屈原的说法有较大的认同度, 因为屈原在中国的历史上有巨大的影响力。

However, the puzzle is why different sayings about the origin of the Dragon-boat Race have the same day as the moment to hold the Dragon-boat Race?

令人困惑的是, 为什么有关赛龙舟起源的说法都是在农历五月初五这一天举行龙舟赛呢?

The answer is certain: to memorize Qu Yuan or Wu Zixu.Yet, we should pay attention to the fact:in China, the day,the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is always regarded as an unlucky day,which is called the evil day of the evil month.

人们注意到, 在中国, 农历五月初五一直被认为是不祥的日子, 被称之为恶月恶日。

There is a version in Chinese ancient books: the boy who was born on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month will kill his father, and the girl her mother,

中国古书上就有这样的说法:在农历五月初五这一天所生的孩子, 是男孩儿则杀父, 是女孩儿则害母。

so people try their best to avoid the possible misfortunes when it comes to the day every year.

因此, 一到每年的农历五月初五, 人们便想尽一切办法避免可能不祥之事的发生。