端午的来历屈原的故事英文（The Legend of Qu Yuan and the Dragon Boat Festival）

Qu Yuan, a poet living in ancient China during the Warring States period, was a loyal minister of the state of Chu. He was deeply patriotic and loved his country, but his integrity and honesty were unwelcome in the corrupt court, leading him to be exiled several times.

During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote many patriotic poems expressing his love and concern for his country, as well as his personal sorrows and frustrations. He hoped that his poetry would inspire his fellow countrymen to unite and fight against the aggressors who threatened the Chu kingdom.

However, his patriotism and honesty brought him many enemies, who slandered and accused him of treacherous intentions. Finally, in 278 BC, during the fifth lunar month, the capital of Chu fell to the powerful state of Qin.

Despaired and heartbroken, Qu Yuan decided to commit suicide as a protest against the corrupt court and to show his love and loyalty to his country. He jumped into the Miluo River, holding a heavy rock in his arms. When the people of Chu heard about Qu Yuan's death, they were deeply moved and saddened. They sailed out on their boats to retrieve his body, but it was too late. In order to prevent the fishes from eating his body, people scattered rice in the river as an offering to Qu Yuan and the gods of the water.

Since then, the tradition of eating zongzi, a pyramid-shaped glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, and racing dragon boats on the fifth day of the lunar month has been kept as a way to commemorate Qu Yuan's sacrifice and express gratitude to the water gods. It is believed that the dragon boat races were held to create a distraction and to deter the fishes from attacking Qu Yuan's body. These customs have been passed down through generations and have become an essential part of the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival.

Today, people around the world still celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, which not only pays tribute to Qu Yuan and the Chinese culture but also promotes teamwork, unity, and sportsmanship. The traditions remain relevant and meaningful, reminding people of the importance of loyalty, integrity, and patriotism.