The Story of Dragon Boats
by Shih Yu-han · Oct 2026
Every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, rivers across Taiwan come alive with the sound of drums. Long, narrow boats with dragon heads race through the water while crowds cheer from the banks. At home, families eat zongzi, sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. Most people enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival, but fewer know why it is celebrated.
The most famous story behind the festival is about Qu Yuan, a poet and official who lived more than two thousand years ago in the state of Chu. Qu Yuan was loyal to his king and gave him honest advice, but officials turned the king against him. He was sent away from the capital. Later, when he learned that his country had been , he was so heartbroken that he threw himself into the Miluo River.
According to the , local people rowed out in boats to search for him. They beat drums to scare away fish, and they threw rice into the water so the fish would eat the rice instead of his body. Over time, these actions became the dragon boat races and the custom of eating zongzi.
Historians are not sure whether every part of this story is true. Some believe that dragon boat races existed even before Qu Yuan's time. Still, the legend has survived because it expresses values that people : honesty, love for one's country, and the courage to speak the truth.
Today, the festival is also about . Schools and companies form teams, and racing requires strong , since every paddle must move together. Whether you race, cheer, or simply eat zongzi with your family, you are taking part in a tradition that has lasted for centuries.