Qu Yuan was a poet, and an advisor to the King of Chu. After a misunderstanding involving the neighboring State of Qin. On one occasion, when troops from the state of Zhao had been divided by a strategic Qin maneuver, they surrendered on the trust that their lives would be spared. Instead, the Qin army slaughtered the 450,000 Zhao troops by burying them alive.
The state of Qin, determined to conquer Chu, drew up a fake treaty, which it encouraged the king of Chu to sign. Qu Yuan, one of the most trusted advisers in Chu, cautioned the King against signing. However, the King misinterpreted Qu Yuan's intentions and thought he was attempting to assume greater political power. As punishment, he banished Qu Yuan from the Kingdom. Humiliated and in anguish over living in exile, Qu Yuan decided to end his life by drowning himself in the Miluo River.
When news of his suicide reached the villagers, they immediately took to their boats, beating drums to frighten the fish and water dragons away and prevent them from eating the body of their fallen poet. To nourish his weakened spirit, villagers also began throwing bags of rice into the river.
Both the act of beating drums and throwing rice to feed Qu Yuan's spirit are traditions that have carried through to today's dragon boat races. And... if you listen closely - on a cold, peaceful morning legend says you can still hear the soft voice of the great Qu Yuan saying, "Paddle through the wake."
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