Dragon-Boat Race
赛龙舟
Dragon-boat, as the term suggests, is a boat carved like a dragon. Dragon-boat race has a long history, and it is held annually on the Dragon-boat Festival, namely the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
龙舟，顾名思义，是雕刻成龙形的船只。赛龙舟在中国有着悠久的历史，在每年的端午节——农历五月初五进行。
Different saying about the origin of the Dragon-boat Race.
赛龙舟起源众说纷纭
There have been different sayings about the origin of the Dragon-boat Race in Chinese history. Someone holds that the race is to memorize Qu Yuan, a famous writer, a man of Chu in the period of the Warring States. He had been a senior official, but hated the crafty sycophants who were in the important positions, so he was squeezed out by them and exiled. He plunged into the River of Miluo and was drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 278BC. It is said that the local people organized spontaneously to rescue him by rowing boats. This action has become a common practice and developed into the Dragon-boat sports.
有关赛龙舟的起源的说法一直是众说不一。有人认为龙舟竞渡是为了纪念中国历史上的屈原。屈原是战国时期楚国人，中国历史上著名的文学家。曾位居高官，但因痛恨奸佞小人当道，受奸臣排挤而遭流放。于公元前278年五月初五投汨罗江而死。据说，当屈原死后，当地民众自发组织起来，竞相划船营救。此举相沿成习发展成了龙舟竞渡活动。
Another version is related to Wu Zixu in Chinese history. Wu Zixu was a minister of Wu state during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was killed by the crafty sycophants because of his loyalty to the country and the king. His body was packed up and thrown into the river. In memory of Wu Zixu, the mass in Wu state respected him as the Wave God and welcomed the coming of him on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month annually. However, people have the general agreement about the saying of Qu Yuan because he had greater influence in Chinese history.
另一种说法是有关中国历史上的伍子胥。伍子胥是中国春秋时期吴国大臣，因为忠于国家、忠于皇帝而遭奸佞之臣陷害而被杀害。尸体被裹起来投入江中。吴国百姓为了纪念伍子胥，奉他为波神，并与每年的农历五月初五举行龙舟竞赛来迎接波神。如此说法不一而足。但是，对于纪念屈原的说法有较大的认同度，因为屈原在中国的历史上有巨大的影响力。
However, the puzzle is why different sayings about the origin of the Dragon-boat Race have the same day as the moment to hold the Dragon-boat Race? The answer is certain: to memorize Qu Yuan or Wu Zixu. Yet, we should pay attention to the fact: in China, the day, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is always regarded as an unlucky day, which is called the evil day of the evil month. There is a version in Chinese ancient books: the boy who was born on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month will kikk his father, and the girl her mother, so people try their best to avoid the possible misfortunes when it comes to the day every year.
令人困惑的是，为什么有关赛龙舟起源的说法都是在农历五月初五这一天举行龙舟赛呢？人们注意到，在中国，农历五月初五一直被认为是不详的日子，被称之为恶月恶日。中国古书上就有这样的说法：在农历五月初五这一天所生的孩子，是男孩儿则杀父，是女孩儿则害母。因此，一到每年的农历五月初五，人们变想尽一切办法避免可能不详之事的发生。
Dragon-boat Race in the Tang dynasty has been held continously
龙舟竞赛在唐代已成风俗
It is recorded that Dragon-boat Race had become a custom in the Tang dynasty. The two emperors, Tang Xuanzong and Tang Jingzong loved watching it. Still Tang Jingzong ordered to build 20 immense dragon boats, so that he could enjoy the dragon boat race on the Dragon-boat Festival. The scale of the dragon-boat races in the Tang dynasty was great. Usually more than then boats would participate, and then hundreds and thousands of audience would come and cheer.
根据历史资料记载，到了唐代时期龙舟竞赛活动就已经成为一种风俗。唐玄宗、唐敬宗都喜爱观看龙舟竞赛，唐敬宗甚至下令建造20艘巨大龙舟，供自己在端午节时观赏龙舟竞渡之用。唐代时龙舟竞渡活动的规模相当宏大，通常有数十艘巨大的龙舟参赛，且观者如潮，喊声震天。
Those who want to win in the race must have the following qualitications. First, the boat must be built with high-qualified wood because the dragon boat is immense, about ten zhangs long. If the wood is too heavy, it will affect its speed, so it is usually made of light fir wood. Second, excellent oarsmen should be chosen. Only the players who have energy, endurance as well as rowing skills can win theclosely fought game. In order to select the top oarsmen, a very effective way is discovered: two contestants sit in a boat back to back, and then they row with full energy to the directions they are facing. The one wins when the boat moves to his direction and is elected as the player in the team. Third, an excellent dispatch is very necessary. Because there are more than then or even a hundred oarsmen on a dragon boat, it is hard for them to win the game if they are out of step, so an excellent dispatch is necessary for victory. It is usually done by putting a drum in the center of the boat, and a strong man is chosen to beat it, which not only lends impetus and strengh, but helps oarsmen to unity the rhythem accordingly and keeps them in step to win the game in the end. Besides, an excellent coxswain is very important, too. Once the boat sets off, it moves forward like a lightning. If it moves off the right direction, it can hardly be adjusted.
赢得龙舟竞渡或冻必须具备以下条件，首先，必须选择优质木材建造龙舟，因为龙舟巨大，一般在10丈左右，如果所用木材过重，必会影响它的行进速度，因此，人们通常用质轻的杉木打造龙舟。其次，要有优秀选手。有了力量又有耐力且掌握了选船技巧的划手，才能在激烈的竞争中胜出。为了选拔优秀的划手，人们发明了一种极为有效的方法：让两位选手背靠背坐在一只小船上，然后各自用力向自己面对的方向划船，船移向谁所划的方向，谁就是胜者，就被选拔到龙舟竞渡队伍中。再者是要有良好的调度。每艘龙舟上的参赛人员少则十几个人，多则上百人，若划手们不能步调一致，是很难取胜的。为了胜利，要有优秀的调度。通常是在龙舟中间放一面大鼓，选出强壮有力的人击鼓，既壮声威，又使划手能根据鼓点统一节奏，步调一致，取得最后的胜利。此外，还要有好的领向员。因为龙舟一旦启动，其行如飞，若在方向上发生偏差，很难调整起来。
The method- to scramble for the award is to win, started from the Tang dynasty. Then two kinds of awards existed: the stationary one or the moving one. The stationary award is usually a prize on the top of pole in the water. The one who gets the prize first wins. The moving award is a prize on the blown-up bladder in the water. When the boat approached it, a best swimmer jumped into water and got the prize, which required the coxswain had correct judgment about the target and guided all the oarsmen to adjust the direction of the boat quickly.
龙舟竞渡中夺标定胜负的比赛方法始于唐朝。标分两种，一是固定标，一是活动标。固定标通常是在水中立一杆，杆上放奖品，谁先取得奖品，谁就是赢家；活动标把动物膀胱充气后放入水中，再挂上奖品，龙舟接近此活动标后，由一名游泳高手入水夺取此标。这就要求领向员对目标要有较强的判断力，并指引全体人员灵活地调整方向。
The Continuous Dragon-Boat Race in China
龙舟竞赛代代相传
Dragon-boat Race in the Song dynasty was as exciting as in Tang. First, the emperor and his relatives loved watching the dragon-boat race, so dragon-boat race was often held in the imperial area Jinming Pool in the Capital Bianliang (the modern city Kaifeng in Henan province). Then, the folk dragon-boat race was vigorous. When it came to the Qing dynasty, though Manchu did not have the dragon-boat race custom, they were moved immediately by the exciting scene of the dragon-boat race and caught up in it. Therefore, the race surpassed the former dynasties quickly in terms of the number of participants as well as its influence.
到了宋代，龙舟竞渡活动丝毫不逊色于唐代。首先是皇室贵胄极爱观看龙舟竞渡表演，在京城汴梁（今河南开封）皇家禁地金明池经常进行龙舟竞赛。再者就是民间龙舟竞渡活动轰轰烈烈。到了清朝，虽然满人没有龙舟竞渡活动的风俗，但是，很快被汉人的龙舟竞渡活动的热闹场面所感染，并陶醉其中。因此，清朝时期的龙舟竞渡活动很快都超过了历代各朝。
Nowadays, dragon-boat race has been a world competitive game. The 1st World Dragon-Boat Championships was held in China in 1995, in which 14 teams from the countries and regions participated. The Dragon-boat Race originating from ancient China now influences the world with its special magic power.
今天，龙舟竞渡活动已是一项国际性的比赛活动。1995年，首届国际龙舟锦标赛在中国举行，有14个国家和地区派队伍参加了比赛。龙舟竞渡这项源于古老中国的活动，正以其特有的魅力影响着世界。
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