BODY NOT FOUND

CORRUPTION NOT WIPED OUT

Dragon Boat Festival

Two thousand years ago Poet Qu Yuan, a government minister and adviser to the king, found corruption among the country’s officials disastrous for the kingdom. He saw the country plunge towards ruination. The king paid little heed to his warnings and sent him away. On his banishment he committed suicide by drowning in the Mi-lo River. His followers and fishermen began a desperate search for his body. They paddled out beating drums to frighten the spirits; and tossed rice wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river to feed the fish so they would not eat Qu Yuan. His body was not found and two thousand years later neither has corruption among government officials been wiped out.

Carved Painted Dragon Head

The Memorial Day, Tuen Ng Festival, is celebrated as the Dragon Boat Festival. The dragon representing the God of the Sea. The cultural event, steeped in tradition, takes place on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar.This usually falls close to the summer solstice. The day has also taken on an international carnival flavour. Row boats, with dragon heads at bows and dragon tail carvings at the rear, manned by drummers compete in spectacular races. This special day is celebrated in China and Hong Kong and Taiwan and in most S. and S. E. Asian countries where Chinese people have settled.

Dragon Tail