History of Dragon Boat Racing
The Hong Kong Information Center in Atlanta conducted the Twelfth
Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Atlanta in September of 2007. The Festival last year took place at Lake
Lanier on the same venue that hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic
Games Rowing and Paddling events. Activities commenced with
races beginning at 9 am and the colorful Opening Ceremonies at noon. The race
has grown from a handful of teams and a few spectators to an
event which is one of the hallmark diversity events in the metro
Atlanta area. The event now boasts a field of more than 50 teams
with over 5,000 spectators and a wide variety of Chinese artisans
either performing or displaying their wares.
The legend of the festival is quite interesting. The Hong Kong
Dragon Boat Festival is undoubtedly one of Hong Kong's most
popular events, drawing thousands of spectators and racing teams
from across the globe. The popularity of this event is growing
at a surprising rate throughout the world but especially in
the USA, Canada and Europe.
Since 1976, when Hong Kong introduced the world's first international
races, dragon boat racing has grown in popularity, with clubs
and associations forming in countries throughout Asia, Europe
and North America and competitions taking place in cities around
the world. The colorful Asian tradition turned exciting international
sporting event has attracted quite a following in the United
States as well. Moving into its eighth year, the Atlanta event
is part of a series of races taking place in major metropolitan
areas along the east coast including Boston, Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia, and New York.
The sport itself dates back some 2,000 years and has as its
origins an ancient Chinese legend. As the story goes, there
was a well-loved statesman and poet by the name of Qu Yuan who
lived in the Kingdom of Chu during the 4th century B.C. Although
this popular figure was a favorite of the people, he found himself
banished from the court at the advice of corrupt officials.
Unhappy and in deep despair, Qu Yuan roamed the countryside
writing poetry about his love of the country and its people.
Unable to bear his sorrow any longer, or perhaps as a final
protest against corruption and a plea to the Emperor, Qu Yuan
drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.
Local fishermen raced out in their boats in an attempt to save
him but arrived too late. In order to lure fish away from the
body, they beat the water with their paddles and tossed rice
dumplings into the river.
The Chinese people have never forgotten Qu Yuan's desperate,
heroic feat. Thus was born a tradition that continues to this
day, dragon boat races are a re-enactment of the failed attempt
to save Qu Yuan. The Dragon Boat Festival has deep cultural
ties, evidenced by the ceremony and ritual surrounding the races.
Four days before a traditional festival, the dragon boats are
taken from repose to have their heads and tails attached. Typically,
a community leader is invited to "dot the eye" of
the dragon in a ceremony designed to rouse its sleeping spirit.
While in some cultures the dragon is considered to be evil,
in Chinese culture dragons are viewed as strong, powerful and
frequently a symbol for the spring rains and growth. Dragons
are also viewed as protective and benevolent, which is why dragon
boat racing is often thought of as a means of spreading good
luck. In return for staging the dragon boat races, it is believed
that the community will be blessed with happiness and prosperity.
The dragon boat itself is a spectacle to behold. The slim, 39-foot
teakwood racer (and fiberglass models) is crafted today in only
a handful of boat-yards in Hong Kong. Distinguished by a fierce-looking
dragon's head at the prow and a tail at the stern, traditional
dragon boats require thirty days, three craftsmen, and years
of practice to produce.
The event has been held each of the last three years in Atlanta
at Lake Lanier which offers an absolutely beautiful background
for all of the activities. Here is a little of what you would
see at our event which is regarded as one of the premier cultural,
diversity events in the Atlanta area.
