端午节

武汉大学 陶杏 供稿

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar(日历).It is a day for people to commemorate (纪念) a great poet Qu Yuan.For thousands of years，the festival has been marked by eating Zongzi and racing dragon boats.It has been listed in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage(世界非物质文化遗产).

每年中国农历五月初五，人们都会庆祝端午节。这天是人们用来纪念伟大诗人屈原的。几千年来这个节日就以吃粽子和赛龙舟为标志。“端午节”已经被列入世界非物质文化遗产名录。

Qu Yuan was a minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States Period(战国时期) (475-221BC).He was upright and loyal.And he was respected for his wise advice that made the state peaceful and strong.However，he was framed (陷害) by traitors (内奸).They stopped Chu Huaiwang to receive Qu Yuan’s advice and estranged (疏远) Chu Huaiwang from Qu Yuan.

战国时期（公元前475-221年），屈原是楚国的一名大臣。他非常正直、忠诚。他睿智的建议使国家稳定富强，因此非常受人尊敬。然而，屈原被内奸陷害，他们阻止楚怀王接受屈原的意见，并使楚怀王疏远了屈原。

In 305 B.C.，Chu Huaiwang wanted to form the Huangji Alliance (联盟) with Qin.Qu Yuan was against it，but it failed.At last，Chu State became Qin’s ally (盟友).And Qu Yuan was expelled (驱逐) out of Yingdu.Later，Chu Huaiwang was seduced (诱惑) by Qin State and then died there.

公元前305年，楚怀王欲与秦国订立黄棘之盟，屈原极力反对，但是毫无作用。楚国最终还是投入了秦国的怀抱。屈原亦被楚怀王逐出郢都。后来楚怀王被秦国诱去，囚死于秦国。

After Qing Xiangwang became the king，he still carried out the policy of surrendering(投降).And Qu Yuan was expelled to southern Yangtze River.In 278 B.C.，Bai Qi，a general of Qin，led his soldiers to break through the capital of Chu.Qu Yuan’s political dream broke and he felt desperate (绝望的) for his future.He wanted to devote himself to the state，but he could do nothing at that time.So he chose to kill himself and on the fifth day of the fifth month，he jumped into the Miluo River carrying a big stone.

顷襄王即位后，继续实施投降政策，屈原又被放逐到江南。公元前278年，秦国大将白起带兵南下，攻破了楚国国都。屈原的政治理想破灭，对前途感到绝望，虽有心报国，却无力回天，只有选择结束自己的生命，在五月初五这一天，屈原怀抱大石投汨罗江自杀。

Nearby fishermen heard about this and rushed over by boat to save him.But they didn’t find his body.It was a rainy day at that time.All the boats were stopped beside the pavilion.When people knew that they were searching for Qu Yuan，people rushed to the Dongting Lake in the rain to find Qu Yuan’s body.But they found nothing.In order to show their grief (悲 伤)，people were rowing on the lake.And later it became the dragon boat race.People were afraid that the fish would eat Qu Yuan’s body，so they went home，brought rice rolls and threw them into the lake to feed the fish.And it became the custom of eating Zongzi later.

当地渔民闻讯马上划船捞救，但始终不见屈原的遗体。那时，恰逢雨天，湖面上的小舟都停在岸边的亭子旁。当人们得知是为了打捞贤臣屈大夫时，冒雨出动，争相划进茫茫的洞庭湖，但是都没找到。为了寄托哀思，人们荡舟江河之上，此后才逐渐发展成为龙舟竞赛。百姓们又怕江河里的鱼吃掉屈原的身体，就纷纷回家拿来米团投入江中喂鱼，后来就演变成了吃粽子的习俗。