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 Qu Yuan was a great politician and poet in the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC). He was born in an aristocratic family of Chu State, one of seven powerful states at that time. Fully trusted by the king of Chu State, Qu Yuan served as chief assistant to the king. He carried out political reforms, set up strict legal system, and gave full opportunity to the able. Menaced by the threat of Qin State, Qu Yuan advocated the alliance with other states, fighting against Qin with combined force. The ruler of Qin, who viewed Chu State as the number one adversary, schemed to undermine the good administration of Chu under Qu Yuan. He sent his men to bribe the brother and favorite woman of the king of Chu, who were jealous of the authority of Qu Yuan. The two spoke ill behind of Qu Yuan to the king and the king took it for truth at last. Qu Yuan was exiled eventually. In the course of his banishment, he produced a great many poets, expressing his concerns about the country and his detestation toward the treacherous persons.
On the breakthrough of Qin army into the capital of his country, Qu Yuan threw himself into Miluo River in present Hunan Province and died with his country. At the news of his suicide, Chu people, who held him in high reverence for his integrity and nobleness, rushed to rescue by boats. But, they failed even to find his body. So they dropped rice balls into the river in order that the fish would not eat his body.
In memory of this great patriotic poet, people made it a custom that on the day of his death, the fifth day of every fifth lunar month, dragon boat race would be held and people should eat Zongzi, which is the glutinous rice ball wrapped up with bamboo or reed leaves. The tradition is still kept up to now, called the Dragon Boat Day.
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