You know the story: Ancient Chinese scholar drowns himself in the river having despaired of the treachery and corruption in his province. His horrified fans throw rice dumplings into said waters, and beat drums on boats to divert underwater scavengers from devouring his body. It all sounds like it was a dramatic day, which the Chinese now commemorate by making.
29 May 2021 08:10PM) Share this content
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Every year, the Dragon Boat Festival (also known as Duanwu Jie) falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. It’s all about commemorating the tragic death of Qu Yuan – a poet and court advisor during ancient China’s Warring States period.
ChangHoSek s Hokkien changs are generously filled with braised pork belly, salted egg yolk, premium dried scallops, shrimp and mushrooms. There are two options- with or without their signature abalone. (Photo: ChangHoSek)
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As storied histories go, he drowned himself in the river after his warning prediction that the kingdom of Chu would be invaded by the state of Qin rang true. Folklore has it that the local villagers tried to save him by banging on drums to sound the alarm, rowing their boats out to find him, and throwing rice dumplings into the water to deter any fish from eating his corpse.