The Origins of Dragon Boat pt. 2

The boats were shaped into Dragons to avoid misfortune and disaster and encourage rainfall which is needed for the fertility of the crops. This created prosperity for the Chinese and their way of life. Celestial dragons were the controllers of the rain, the Monsoon winds and the clouds. As the dragon boat speeds down the rivers and lakes, it spreads with it the magic of the dragon. The magic allows for prosperity, rainfall, and fertility. Also, it is to be a tribute for the late Chinese hero, Qu Yuan. This belief and tradition made the dragon boat races and annual event. The Emperor was "The Dragon" or the "Son of Heaven", and Chinese people refer to themselves as "dragons" because of its spirit of strength and vitality. This heavy influence and reverence for Dragons in the Chinese culture made dragon boat and the Duan Wu Jie, the dragon boat festival held every year, a popular celebration.