The dragon boat race has been a custom since the Warring States Period. People carve dragon-shaped canoes to the sound of drums and play a race game to entertain the gods and people. At this time, the dragon boat race is a semi-religious and semi-entertaining program in the ceremony.

Sacrificing Qu Yuan is closely related to dragon boat racing in the two lakes region. Perhaps after the death of Qu Yuan, Cao E and Wu Zixu, the local people also used soul boats to send their souls to be buried, so there is this custom. However, in addition to commemorating Qu Yuan, dragon boat racing has been endowed with different meanings in various places.

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

Extended information:

In memory of Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan was a minister in Chu Huaiwang during the Spring and Autumn Period. His advocacy of promoting talents and empowering people, enriching Qiang Bing, and uniting Qi to fight against Qin was strongly opposed by Zi Lan, a nobleman. Qu Yuan was forced to leave his post and was exiled to Yuan and Xiang River basins. Later, he threw himself into the Miluo River and died.

It is said that after the death of Qu Yuan, the people of Chu were so sad that they flocked to the Miluo River to pay their respects to Qu Yuan. Fishermen rowed boats and fished for his real body back and forth on the river. They scrambled to catch up with each other, but there was no trace when they reached Dongting Lake. Then they rowed a dragon boat every May 5 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 race, you must go to the Quzi Temple to worship the dragon head, put red cloth on the dragon head, and then race on the boat, so as to not only worship the dragon god, but also commemorate Qu Yuan.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Dragon Boat Race