Dragonboat Tradition

The Dragon has a very symbolic meaning for the Chinese.

A classic dragon has the head of an ox; a deer’s antlers; the mane of a horse; the body and scales of a snake; the claws of an eagle and the tail of a fish. With its strength and power the Dragon rides the clouds in the sky and commands the wind, mist and rain.

The Dragon Boat is deeply embedded in China’s “Dragon” culture, with the Boat having an ornately carved dragon’s head at the Bow and a tail in the Stern.  The Hull is painted with the Dragon’s scales.  The paddles symbolically represent the claws.

In ancient China, the Dragon Boat was used for religious purposes as a way of appeasing the rain gods.  Later, Qu Yuan, the great warrior poet, committed suicide in the river Mi Lo, as a protest against the political corruption of the day.

To commemorate this sacrifice the people began to organise Dragon Boat Races in his memory.  Since that time over 2000 years ago, Dragon Boat Racing has become a major part of Chinese culture, representing patriotism and group integrity.

Excerpted from the International Dragon Boat Federation.