The dragon is the most highly regarded of the Chinese zodiac deities, thought to have the ability to control water.
Dragon boat racing has an interresting history dating back around 2000 years, to Chinas Warring States period.
[Henry Wan, HK Dragon Boat Festival NY Chairman]:
In Chinese history the dragon is a divine animal that has the power to call for the rain. So by awakening them they would bring good luck to the festival.
New Yorks annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Flushing Meadows Park attracts around 60,000 visitors. This year, it will be held the second weekend of August.
To welcome the festival, festival organizers and those with a passion for Chinese culture came together at New Yorks iconic Central Parkto show demonstrate some traditional Chinese martial arts.
Like Ditang Chuan, also known as ground tumbling kungfu.
These were some tough guys.
And one Buddhist monk blessed the dragon boats by putting red paint in their eyes. This was supposed to awaken the sleeping beasts and bring the festival good luck.
New Yorks Commissioner of Parks took the opportunity to share some Chinese wisdom.
[Adrian Benepe, NY Commissioner of Parks]:
There is an old Chinese proverb which says that to attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend. Share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon.
Dragon boat racer Nick Lee is looking forward to the festival. He has been dragon boat racing for the last five years.
[Nick Lee, HSBC Dragon Boat Team Captain]:
Well dragon boating is a sport that depends on the entire team. Not an individual performance where one person is stronger than another. But that everybody enters and pulls with the same amount of strength. And that we can learn from one another and kind of build on each others strength rather than just doing it yourself.
Festival chairman Henry Wan gave us some insight in to the history of the dragon boat race, and the origins date back to Chinas Chu Kingdom.
[Henry Wan, HK Dragon Boat Festival NY Chairman]:
"2000 years ago in the kingdom before you have a high court officer, and a very well known poet called Qu Yuan, he was afraid of the new king."
As the story goes eventually Qu was upset by corruption in the kingdom so he drowned himself in the Mei Lo river, which is located in today's Hunan Province.
[Henry Wan, HK Dragon Boat Festival NY Chairman]:
"Because he was so well-known and well-liked the villagers all raised up and tried to save him. But can not be saved. And every year they reenact the festival so there comes the dragon boat racing.
Today's dragon-boat races are said to symbolize the villagers frantic efforts to rescue Qu Yuan's body.
Sarah Matheson, NTD New York.
Loading...
14:10China News January 27, 2012by NTDTV106 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)