When the dragon boat first appeared during the Warring States period of China (475-221 BCE), its purpose was mainly functional—the long hull of the dragon boat was useful in rescuing people and escaping during floods. It wasn’t until the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) and the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280 CE) that the dragon boat became associated with the Dragon Boat Festival. And it would be around three more centuries before the dragon boat became linked with the commemoration of the righteous official Qu Yuan.
But the sport of dragon boat racing known today only came into existence in 1976. In that year, Hong Kong hosted the first international dragon boat racing competition, opening the door for the standardization and modernization of this ancient tradition. Slowly, the sport began to gain popularity. It is now an international sport with over eighty-nine countries or territories participating in the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). In 2011, China included dragon boat racing in the third batch of The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, recognizing the significance of this traditional sport.
The dragon boat, as its name implies, is designed to look like a dragon with a dragon bust in the front and a tail in the back. The dragon boat and head are traditionally made of teak wood (although fiberglass is now used for the newer, more professional boats) and decorated with paint. The crew members are free to add their personal touches to their boat, resulting in diversity in colors and poses. In certain traditions, the crew members ask a monk to add the final touches to the boat by painting the eyes of the dragon as a form of blessing.
Under IDBF guidelines, a standard boat should consist of twenty-two crew members: a drummer, a helm, and twenty paddlers. During the race, the drummer will be standing at the head of the boat, facing the paddlers, providing the rhythm to which the paddlers will row to. The helm will be at the back, controlling the overall direction of the boat to ensure it does not go off course and remains in its lane. The first boat to cross the finish line wins.
