Investigation Report: The Origin and Customs of the Dragon Boat Festival

Survey: Nearly 4 adults believe that the Dragon Boat Festival is too commercial. May 30, 2009 09:09 CCTV "News 1+1" broadcast "Dragon Boat Festival: How do we face it?" on May 29, 2009. ”, the following is the completed script:

China has launched the application process for the Dragon Boat Festival as a UNESCO World Heritage, with Hubei as the representative, and the Dragon Boat Festival customs in three provinces and four places have been jointly packaged and applied for application. When the Dragon Boat Festival customs such as worshiping Qu Yuan, planting mugwort, eating rice dumplings, and racing dragon boats are preserved in traditional forms, how should we inherit its cultural connotation? As traditional festivals fade away in modern society, what innovative symbols should we give to traditional culture? When many countries celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, how should we present the Chinese flavor in our sharing? "News 1+1" analyzes it for you.

Host Wang Yuejun:

Hello, welcome to today's "News 1+1".

Yesterday was the Dragon Boat Festival. How should we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival? What have you been through? A survey of a thousand middle school students was conducted somewhere before the festival. As a result, 90% of the students only answered eating rice dumplings and rowing dragon boats. This actually reflects to a certain extent that our traditional national festivals have been marginalized and superficial. A sign. So now some people are suggesting that our Dragon Boat Festival should be declared a world intangible cultural heritage. So, can such an application be able to enhance the vitality and influence of our current traditional festival? Today we specially invite Zhang Jiangang, deputy director of the Cultural Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, to welcome you. Director Zhang, let’s first take a look at the progress of the Dragon Boat Festival’s application as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(Short video)

Host of "Chao Wen Tian Xia" on May 29, 2009:

According to Xinhua News Agency, the protection of intangible cultural heritage in Hubei Province The relevant person in charge of the center said that Hubei Province has applied to UNESCO on behalf of my country to declare the Dragon Boat Festival as a masterpiece of human intangible cultural heritage. At present, the Dragon Boat Festival application has entered the preliminary evaluation stage.

Explanation:

The Dragon Boat Festival is the intangible cultural heritage of mankind. On this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, in addition to eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats, people also linked the two together. It is understood that in the second half of this year, UNESCO will conduct a review and then make a detailed announcement. So what are the considerations for this declaration? What aspects are involved?

Jiang Qinghe, Director of the Hubei Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center:

This application is a masterpiece of human intangible cultural heritage. We have prepared the application text in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Culture. , and then edit a declaration piece. The Dragon Boat Festival project *** has four units, one is Zigui and Huangshi in Hubei, the other is Suzhou in Jiangsu and Miluo in Hunan. We will introduce some names of the Dragon Boat Festival, customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival and its A series of manifestations, etc., and then go through some declaration procedures with the relevant declaration area.

Explanation:

In fact, in addition to China’s efforts in reporting the Dragon Boat Festival, South Korea had already taken the lead four years ago. In 2005, South Korea's Gangneung Dragon Boat Festival was successfully declared and declared a masterpiece of oral and intangible cultural heritage of mankind by UNESCO. This also aroused strong concern and controversy among the Chinese people at the time, and even led to the call to defend the Dragon Boat Festival. The cry is quite tragic. Now that the Dragon Boat Festival is being applied for World Heritage status again, what is the public’s attitude?

A website launched a related survey on this application. In the survey of "Do you support my country's application for the Dragon Boat Festival World Heritage", which involved nearly 30,000 people, nearly 90% of the people expressed support. And 74.9% of people expressed confidence in this application. So as one of the bidders, what does the Hubei Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center think of it?

Jiang Qinghe:

Theoretically speaking, this should be said to be very certain. When South Korea passed the Dragon Boat Festival a few years ago, it did cause a wave of fluctuations in the country. At that time, society thought that just like trademarks, South Korea had registered our trademarks. In fact, this was not the case. South Korea’s Dragon Boat Festival was slightly related to our Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, but they were not the same thing. There are some differences in the forms of expression, presentation methods, and some customs and habits between Korea and China. There is no contradiction, conflict, or influence between Korea's coverage of the Dragon Boat Festival and China's coverage of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Explanation:

Now that the Dragon Boat Festival has become a specific festival culture in our country, and its inheritance has penetrated into people's lives, how should we view this application for World Heritage? What is the purpose of our application? Can the application of the Dragon Boat Festival as a World Heritage Site bring this traditional festival back to life again?

Moderator:

Everyone feels confident about applying for World Heritage status for the Dragon Boat Festival, but there is still some controversy. We have also seen that some people say that the application of the Dragon Boat Festival to the World Heritage can enable our traditional festivals to be carried forward. Relying on the application of the World Heritage is only an external force. Do you think that carrying forward a festival like this should largely occur within our nation? A force, what do you think of this controversy?

Zhang Jiangang Special Observer:

I think the rules for applying for World Heritage have also changed a bit this time. It does not limit how many items you can submit. We probably It is a comprehensive package plan with dozens of items, so I think the hope of success is very high if I apply. As for us and South Korea, I think we can do this separately. I went to South Korea some time ago and discussed this issue with them. I think South Korean society may be ahead of us in the process of modernization, so They attach great importance to issues of cultural heritage and cultural resources. So I think they are worthy of congratulations for being able to take the lead.

Host:

For example, the Dragon Boat Festival in South Korea, which we call the Dragon Boat Festival, is actually different in some contents, but its origins should be said to be basically similar. of. If its application is successful, will it have a certain impact on our application?

Zhang Jiangang:

It seems that UNESCO is not saying that it will only approve a country to have such a custom. After all, it depends on the fact that customs like the Dragon Boat Festival were many in the ancient East. Many places and ethnic groups actually have such a custom, so I think there should be no conflict.

Moderator:

A festival like the Dragon Boat Festival has many corresponding activities or some traditional customs. Just now we mentioned a survey of middle school students in a certain place The result is just eating rice dumplings and rowing dragon boats. We now have different opinions about it. Does it commemorate Qu Yuan, commemorate Wu Zixu, or is it a festival to ward off evil spirits and avoid disasters? How about it? Want to have a clear understanding of the Dragon Boat Festival?

Zhang Jiangang:

I think festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival actually have a long development process, and they do have their own characteristics. In fact, in the earliest days, the Dragon Boat Festival was mainly a festival that people celebrated when entering summer, just like we have the Spring Festival in spring, and we have the Summer Festival in summer.

Host:

Why do we celebrate this festival?

Zhang Jiangang:

By this time we know the changes of seasons. Many things in our human body have various connections with the natural world. For example, in summer, the weather is very hot. There may be some areas in our body that need to be adjusted. We may also be exposed to more weather, such as humid and sultry weather, so we have to adjust the body by ourselves. Sometimes it is not enough. We also need to use some herbs to adjust, so we drink realgar wine. There is a trend to use mugwort or calamus to soak in water, take a bath, etc. This is one aspect.

On the other hand, I think there may be some customs related to our farming and production methods in this festival, so for example, we Manchus may be a hunting people, so when celebrating this festival , he can shoot arrows. Other farming people may row dragon boats or catch ducks. Their activities in the water may be related to their farming activities.

In its development process, there is another aspect, which may be related to some specific historical events and historical figures. China's territory at that time was also very vast, so after different historical events occurred, this solar term would be added, with different contents in different places. So just like the Dragon Boat Festival we declared this time, it was mainly in Hubei and Hunan. To commemorate Qu Yuan, in Suzhou it may be to commemorate Wu Zixu.

Host:

We say that we want to carry forward our festivals, to some extent, to promote the culture of our nation.

Let’s return to the matter of applying for the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Do you think the application was successful? What role will it play for us if we apply for the world’s intangible cultural heritage this Dragon Boat Festival?

Zhang Jiangang:

First of all, of course, the significance of declaration is to show that our government and all our people are aware of the importance of protecting cultural heritage. It has such We have such a determination and a desire to fully dig out our traditional culture and protect it. This is also to let people around the world know about this and welcome them to learn about our customs. I think This is the main meaning.

An international organization like UNESCO has been working for the peaceful development of all mankind. For such an organization to promote such masterpieces to the world and certify such things, I think It will indeed have a completely different effect than if we go out and spread it one by one by ourselves.

Moderator:

You just mentioned that it can express our attitude and allow the outside world to see many of our inner things. But from our inner point of view, just from our inner point of view, what role will the application for World Heritage play in the inheritance of our culture?

Zhang Jiangang:

The first thing to apply for World Heritage is to let all people know about such things. For example, how many versions of the Dragon Boat Festival story are there? In fact, I think many people don’t I know you have seen it in the program just now. Everyone knows about eating rice dumplings and rowing dragon boats. In fact, there are many forms of it. For example, in Ningbo, Zhejiang, there are also some called Cao'e Festival. We actually don't have more to explore about these contents. , through such extensive publicity, everyone may look for such information and fully reveal its connotation through digging.

Moderator:

I think it will undoubtedly cost a lot to apply for World Heritage. You may think that it requires manpower and financial resources. This kind of application for the Dragon Boat Festival From the perspective of costs and benefits, what kind of proportional relationship will it be?

Zhang Jiangang:

The issue of cost depends on how we calculate it. If it is just to produce a text, including shooting some TV films, then I think the cost is not very high. In the past two years, our governments at all levels have been promoting the cause of public cultural services. Through this process of applying for World Heritage, they will also put mass literary and artistic activities, this kind of cultural activities, into unfold. As for what we are doing in this area, I think it is not just a project for applying for heritage. It is actually related to the cultural life of our entire people. This should be said to be worthwhile.

Moderator:

The topic that audience friends are talking about today is triggered by the declaration of the Dragon Boat Festival as a world intangible cultural heritage. How can we make our traditional festivals What about further developing its connotation or connotation? We will continue in a moment.

It should be said that as we mentioned before, a series of traditional ethnic festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival have been marginalized and superficial. There are certain signs of this trend. . Indeed, this indifference to the connotation of this traditional cultural festival is a reality we have to face. Next, let’s watch a movie to find out more.

Explanation:

"The sky was bright and clear on May 5th, and poplars circled the river and sang the dawn eagle. The drum sounded three times and the red flag opened, and two dragons jumped out of the water." This is a story. Thousands of years ago, poets from the Tang Dynasty described the lively scenes of the Dragon Boat Festival in their poems. The Dragon Boat Festival begins on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Popular folk saying is that the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. On this day, people eat rice dumplings, plant calamus, drink realgar wine, and engage in dragon boat racing and other activities. Nowadays, when the custom of the Dragon Boat Festival with a history of more than 2,000 years has been inherited and has become a national statutory holiday, some people call for "Don't let the Dragon Boat Festival become a Zongzi Festival", and some people lament that "the Dragon Boat Festival is still celebrated, and the zongzi is fragrant. The dragon boat is racing... What else is left besides these Dragon Boat Festivals?"

Recently, an online survey on the Dragon Boat Festival showed that 62.51% of the respondents believed that people themselves ignored the Dragon Boat Festival tradition and were not enough. Pay attention to. 37.49% of people believe that the commercial flavor of the Dragon Boat Festival is too strong. What 41.81% of people want to do most during the Dragon Boat Festival is to rest at home.

In fact, due to different regional and cultural backgrounds, this year’s Dragon Boat Festival activities are unevenly hot and cold in various places. In the south, especially Hubei Province where Qu Yuan’s hometown is located, and some provinces and cities that have jointly launched the Dragon Boat Festival application for World Heritage, Dragon Boat Festival activities are very lively. The highlight of the Dragon Boat Festival in Zigui, Hubei Province is the dragon boat race. Some contestants' hats are woven with three little birds made of bamboo and bamboo leaves, symbolizing Qu Yuan's sister calling her brother back. On the shore of East Lake in Wuhan, a group of college students dressed in Hanfu paid homage to the statue of Qu Yuan. In some other places in my country, Dragon Boat Festival activities are more related to eating rice dumplings, such as rice dumpling-making competitions held in various places, among which Nanjing and Nanjing have specially held rice dumpling-making competitions for foreigners. For some office workers, taking advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday to travel around is the most important thing. The Dragon Boat Festival has been reduced to just going to the supermarket to buy a few frozen rice dumplings. Apart from knowing that it is related to commemorating a poet named Qu Yuan, many people know very little about other cultural significance it contains.

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Survey: 90% of students only know how to eat rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival, but adults find the festival boring.

How can the cultural connotation of traditional festivals be popularized?

Happy Zongzi Festival! Yesterday was the traditional Dragon Boat Festival in my country, but many primary and secondary school students used rice dumplings instead of their first greetings when they met.

On the 27th, Chongqing Huaxia Chinese Studies Research Institute conducted a survey on middle school students’ understanding of the Dragon Boat Festival. The results showed that in the minds of more than 90% of students, eating rice dumplings has almost become the entire content of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Little is known about how to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival

This survey was conducted among more than 1,000 junior high school students in 5 middle schools including Zishui Middle School and Chaoyang Middle School in our city. The students were not ambiguous about the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival. They all said that it was to commemorate the great poet Qu Yuan, and eating rice dumplings was to "prevent Qu Yuan's body from being eaten by fish in the river, so they threw the rice dumplings in the river." ".

But students were confused about how to celebrate this traditional festival. The content of the festival they could list was pitiful. More than 90% of the students could only list eating rice dumplings, rowing dragon boats, hanging Chen Ai, drinking realgar wine and other ways that have been seen in textbooks. Very few students Can answer.

In the survey, for the question "How do you want to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?", 65% of the students answered: "Eat rice dumplings and celebrate the festival with your parents at home"; 17% of the students answered: "Yes Go out and play around"; and 14% of students answered: "I hope to have more vacations and less homework."

The Dragon Boat Festival has more cultural connotations

“Students’ understanding of the Dragon Boat Festival is only based on superficial book knowledge, but they are very vague about the profound meaning of celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival. " Mr. Huang Mingchao, dean of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Studies, said that from the more than 1,000 questionnaires received, it was found that most children have a certain understanding of the origin and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, but it is obviously from textbooks and it is difficult to feel it in life. The cultural connotation of this traditional festival.

Huang Mingchao said: "Dragon Boat Festival allows you to have a holiday and eat rice dumplings with family and friends. This is the main reason why children like the Dragon Boat Festival. However, the Dragon Boat Festival should never be just about these contents. This tradition has been passed down for thousands of years. Chinese traditional festivals also have richer cultural connotations. ”

Adults also find the festival boring

In fact, it is not just primary and secondary school students who feel about the Dragon Boat Festival, but also many adults. The same is true for people.

"I woke up early in the morning and went online and saw the news about Koreans holding the Dragon Boat Festival. I felt sour in my heart." Mr. Huang, who lives at 1-21-3 Lidu, Chang'an, Jiangbei, said, "People celebrate traditional festivals. There are grand ceremonies and rich content, but our festivals are now hard to see even dragon boat racing. Everyone goes to the mall to buy some beautifully packaged rice dumplings to celebrate the festival.

”

36-year-old Ms. Wang Kailing’s hometown is in Dazhou, Sichuan. She recalled how she celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival as a child: when she got up early in the morning, her mother would tie a colorful thread on her hand and hang an incense stick on it. Then I went up the mountain with my friends to pick henna and paint my fingers red. At that time, moxa was hung on the door of every house. In the afternoon, I went to the river to watch the dragon boat race. In the evening, my mother boiled mugwort water for me. She takes a shower. "It makes me feel warm when I think about it now, but in modern society, many things seem difficult to achieve. ”

The Dragon Boat Festival will have results in the second half of the year

This year’s Dragon Boat Festival has a different meaning - with Qu Yuan’s hometown Hubei Province as the main body, my country’s Dragon Boat Festival has applied for the world’s intangible cultural heritage It has been fully launched, and the results will be available in the second half of this year. Voice of China's "News" yesterday interviewed Jiang Qinghe, director of the Hubei Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center.

Jiang Qinghe said that the relevant application materials are now available. It has been submitted to UNESCO, which will review it in the second half of this year and announce the results. It is reported that the main content of the application for the Dragon Boat Festival includes: festival customs, such as hanging moxa leaves and calamus on the Dragon Boat Festival; sacrifices, etc. Customs, as well as sports games and competition activities.

The name of the heritage declared this time is "Chinese Dragon Boat Festival", and the content is actually composed of "Dragon Boat Festival customs" in three provinces and four places, namely Zigui County, Hubei. "Dragon Boat Festival Customs in Qu Yuan's Hometown", "Xisai Shenzhou Festival" in Huangshi City, "Dragon Boat Festival Customs on the Miluo River" in Hunan Miluo City, and "Suzhou Dragon Boat Festival Customs" in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, the application materials were jointly "packaged" and submitted to the United Nations by the three provinces UNESCO. According to my country Broadcasting Network

How did you spend the Dragon Boat Festival?

This year is the second Dragon Boat Festival holiday in our country. How did you spend this holiday? After South Korea's "Gangneung Dragon Boat Festival" was declared a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO four years ago, China has launched the application process for the "Dragon Boat Festival". Currently, the project has been submitted to the United Nations by Hubei Province on behalf of China. Submit the application form and enter the preliminary evaluation stage. How did you spend this holiday? "International Herald" and Sina launched a survey, welcome your participation.

How did you spend this Dragon Boat Festival?

1. Eating rice dumplings

2. Drinking realgar wine

3. Dragon boat racing

4. Planting mugwort and hanging calamus

5 Sacrifice to Qu Yuan and Wu Zixu

6 Learned knowledge about festivals

7 Travel

8 Did nothing

You What do you think the meaning of the Dragon Boat Festival is?

1. Reunion with family

2. Learn about folk customs