端午节

农历五月初五是端午节，又叫龙舟节。几千年来，人们过端午吃粽子、划龙舟，粽子呈三角锥形，用糯米做成，加之外面包有一层竹叶或芦苇叶，味道鲜美。

端午节最初只是为了安抚一种河中蛟龙，最后演变成节日，一种纪念屈原的节日在大众流行开来。屈原是战国时期楚国的大诗人，伟大的爱国人士，他出生于公元前340年，屈氏家族在当时是楚国当政的三大贵族之一。屈原先前深得楚怀王赏识，被封为左徒，辅助国王起草律章，制定内政外交之策。

战国时期，诸国并峙，纷争不断，战国七雄中的齐、楚、燕、赵、魏、秦都想统一七国。其中，秦国实力最强（于公元前221年统一了七国，建立了中国历史上第一个大一统的皇国），位于今天的陕西省及其附近地区。楚国位于长江流域，是七国中最大的国家，后来也成了秦国的死敌。

屈原认识到秦国是楚国最大的威胁，所以他对内推行政治改革，对外与齐国联盟，以确保国家安全。但是，楚王周围尽是些自私自利的小人，他们嫉妒屈原，收受秦国的贿赂之后，在楚王面前谗言污语，劝他放弃屈原的建议，国王渐渐疏远了这位大诗人，最后屈原被流放二十年。

在流放的岁月里，看到自己深爱的祖国日渐衰弱，屈原悲痛欲绝。公元前278年，秦军攻陷楚国首都。悲愤中屈原写下了他最伟大的诗篇《离骚》。农历五月初五，屈原悲愤交加，抱石跳进了汨罗江，将生命献给了自己的国家。

由于屈原热爱自己的祖国和人民，深受人们爱戴和敬仰。当人们得知他跳江的噩耗以后，纷纷划船前去抢救他的尸体，但最终没有找见。这便是每年农历五月初五龙舟竞赛的由来。

所有跟龙舟节相关的传统习俗之中，流传最广的或许要数包粽子、吃粽子了。粽子的故事也与屈原之死有关，屈原跳江自杀以后，人们用竹简装米丢在水里以抚慰屈原的在天之灵。同时，人们希望这样河中的鱼就不会咬噬屈原的尸体了。

屈原的生平充满悲楚，然而，作为诗人，他取得了很大的成就。事实上，他被当成中国文学史上第一位诗人，在他以前，只有民歌。屈造了一种新的诗体：

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English Version

Duanwu Festival

The Duanwu Festival, or the The Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. For thousands of years, Duanwu has been marked by eating Zongzi,a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves to give it a special flavor,and racing dragon boats.

During the Warring States Period China was marked by the appearance of a number of contending kingdoms existing in a state of confrontation,war,and instable alliances.The states were all striving for domination were Qi, Chu, Yan, Wei, Zhao, Han and Qin, whose territory was mainly in the present-day Shaanxi Province and environs, was the strongest power ( and in fact the last ruler of the State of Qin succeed in 221B.C. inestablishing the Qin Dynasty, the first unified empire in Chinese history ).Chu,located along the Yangtze River,had the largest area among the seven states and consequently Qin’s foremost enemy

Qu Yuan realized that Qin was the greatest menace to Chu, so he proposed government reforms and an alliance with the neghboring Qi State as a way to ensure Chu’s safety.But the King of Chu was surrounded by self-seekers,who were jealous of Qu Yuan.They accepted bribes from the Qin’s envoy,dissuaded the King from taking Qu Yuan’s advice and brought about the poet’s estrangement from the King. Qu Yuan was finally sent into exile for 20 years.

Of all the customs associated with the Dragon Boat Festival,possibly the most wide spread is the preparation and eating of Zong Zi.The story behind Zongzi also goes back to Qu Yuan’s death. After the poet had killed himself, people cast sections of bamboo filled with rice into the river to honor his soul.By doing this,people wish that the fishes in the river would stay away from Qu Yuan’s body.

Qu Yuan’s life was a tragic but, as a poet, he achieved great success.In fact, he is considered to be the first poet in Chinese literature.Before his time, there were only folk songs. Qu Yuan created a new style of poetry, which became known as Chu Ci.

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