Before we embark on our simple dragon boat art and craft, let’s take a look at the history of dragon boat festival. We always feel that understanding the origins and why children are doing this also is as important as the process itself.
Since some children are doing home based learning while others are having their summer holidays, this is a great stay at home activity for the young and old. The art is very simple to do yet amazing.
Origins of Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival originated in ancient China based on the suicide of the poet and statesman of the Chu kingdom, Qu Yuan in 278 BCE.
This festival commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan, who was a loyal minister of the King of Chu in the third century BCE. Qu Yuan’s wisdom and intellectual ways antagonized other court officials, thus they accused him of false charges of conspiracy and was exiled by the king. During his exile, Qu Yuan composed many poems to express his anger and sorrow towards his sovereign and people.
Qu Yuan drowned himself by attaching a heavy stone to his chest and jumping into the Miluo River in 278 BCE at the age of 61. The people of Chu tried to save him believing that Qu Yuan was an honorable man; they searched desperately in their boats looking for Qu Yuan but were unable to save him. Every year the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate this attempt at rescuing Qu Yuan.
The local people began the tradition of throwing sacrificial cooked rice into the river for Qu Yuan, while others believed that the rice would prevent the fishes in the river from eating Qu Yuan’s body. At first, the locals decided to make rice dumplings (zongzi) hoping that it would sink into the river and reach Qu Yuan’s body.
Dragon Boat Symbols
The villagers make noises using drums and cymbals for the same reason of chasing the fishes away. Hence the dragon boat race has become very much of the Dragon Boat festival in many countries.
A dragon boat is a long paddle boat with brightly decorated dragon designs. The competitors in various boats have to race to the finish line first to win.
Dragon Boat art & craft
You will need:
- Our dragon boat template download printable – Click on the click here to access our shop. (You will receive the download immediately in your mailbox upon payment!)
- Scissors
- Double-sided tape
Here’s the video for the Dragon Boat Craft.
