Chinese character 'kang' & Duanwu Festival

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The written word and tradition in China

Chinese character 'kang' (meaning good health or to stay healthy): 康

Editor's note: The Chinese character "kang" is the keyword for the traditional Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival. "Kang" means good health or to stay healthy. 

Ancient Chinese people believed that natural disasters and illnesses were especially common between late May and early June, when Duanwu Festival is celebrated, so they prayed for the good health of their family and friends during this festival. This year's Duanwu Festival falls on June 3. 

With a history of more than 2,000 years, the festival is celebrated with a variety of traditions along with legends passed down for generations.

1. Commemorating poet Qu Yuan

The best-known legend in China holds that Duanwu Festival commemorates the death of the poet Qu Yuan (340–278 B.C.). Qu Yuan was a politician of the State of Chu and one of China's earliest poets. Faced with great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the state and strengthening its military forces so as to fight the Qin. However, he was opposed by other aristocrats, and later deposed and exiled by his king. During exile, he continued to care deeply for his hometown and people and wrote a wide range of great poetry. In 278 B.C., Qu Yuan heard the news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu's capital, and so plunged into the Miluo River and drowned himself. The day happened to be the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. After his death, the people of Chu crowded the banks of the river to pay their respects.

2. Eating 'zongzi'

Zongzi is a must-have food during Duanwu Festival. In ancient China, these traditional rice dumplings were used as an offering to pay tribute to ancestors and deities. Later, according to legend, after poet Qu Yuan plunged himself into the Miluo River, people threw zongzi into the water to divert fish away from his body. Zongzi are pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves and tied with colored thread. They are prepared with a wide range of fillings, including jujube and bean paste, fresh meat, ham and egg yolk. 

3. Racing dragon boats

Duanwu Festival is also called the Dragon Boat Festival. It's said that the festival may originate from dragon worship and that dragon boat racing reflects a reverence for the dragon deity. Folk tales also suggest that dragon boat racing is connected with the ancient poet Qu Yuan. After Qu Yuan drowned himself in the river to mourn the fall of his motherland, local people raced out in their boats to try and save him. Later, dragon boat racing became an indispensable part of the festival. Nowadays, it has developed into a sport which combines both Chinese tradition and the modern sporting spirit. 

4. Drinking realgar wine

Realgar wine is a kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar. Legend has it that an old doctor poured a jug of realgar wine into the water where poet Qu Yuan drowned himself, hoping to make all the creatures in the river drunk and prevent them from eating the poet's body. Past generations also used realgar as a pesticide against mosquitoes in the hot summer, and as an antidote against poison in ancient times. Now, drinking realgar wine has become a tradition during Duanwu Festival. 

5. Hanging mugwort

During Duanwu Festival, Chinese people often hang mugwort above their doors to deter insects. In ancient times, people believed that hanging mugwort, calamus or pomegranate flowers could get rid of misfortune or drive away evil spirits. Also, venomous animals — such as snakes, centipedes and scorpions — were said to appear starting from the fifth day of the fifth month, and so people would hang mugwort or calamus, take long walks, and wear perfumed medicine pouches to keep venomous animals away and prevent diseases while promoting health and well-being.

6. Wearing colored braids and perfumed pouches

Parents usually make perfumed pouches or colored braids for their children during Duanwu Festival, believing that wearing these items will help ward off evil spirits and diseases. The small pouches are filled with perfume or herbal medicine and tied to children's clothes, while the braids are often composed of five colors of threads and are tied to the wrist.