Dragon Boat Festival (The custom of Dragon Boat Festival in Qu Yuan’s hometown) was approved by the State Council as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.It was listed on the representative list of the human intangible cultural heritage by the United Nations in 2009, which was the first Chinese festival to be included in the world intangible heritage.
Originated from the summer solstice festival in the pre-Qin period,the Dragon Boat Festival is a Chinese traditional festival. During the period of the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the commemoration of Qu Yuan gradually became the main content of the Dragon Boat Festival activity in the south, especially the Jingchu area. The folklore about Qu Yuan and the Dragon Boat Festival has also been continuously enriched, after that the blessing customs of eating Zongzi and tying five-color silk are also turned to commemorate Qu Yuan.
In the 15th year of Yuanhe (Tang dynasty),Wang Maoyuan,the prefectural governor of Guizhou,built Qu Yuan temple atQuyuantuoin the hometown of Qu Yuan,and wrote the inscription.Every Dragon Boat Festival, people from all over the countryside and varies of the Dragon Boat gather hereto hold a memorial ceremony for Qu Yuan by Dragon Boat Racing; besides, farmers chant songs of Chu or write poetry, singing each other, which is unique in the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival all over the country, becoming the peculiar character of the Dragon Boat Festival in Zigui.
The custom of Dragon Boat Festival in Qu Yuan’s hometown not only retains the tradition of Dragon Boat Festival, but also preserves the praise of Qu Yuan’s spirit and character.