University Times

Dragon boat racing is a Chinese tradition that commemorates Qu Yuan — poet, scholar, diplomat and adviser to the King of Chu during China's turbulent Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).

Threatened by Qu Yuan's policies of rooting out corruption and forging an alliance with the neighboring state of Qi, his enemies embarked on a devious campaign to discredit Qu Yuan. It worked: The king demoted and eventually banished him.

Weakened by internal power struggles, the capital city of Chu fell to the up-and-coming Qin state in 278 B.C. A grief-stricken Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River.

Legend says that the river dragon, sharing Qu Yuan's grief at the defeat of his country, flew away with him to a peaceful place. Meanwhile, villagers rushed to their boats in an attempt to save the much-admired Qu Yuan, slapping the water with their oars and banging on drums to scare fish away.

Dragon boating is said to have evolved over the next few centuries as fishermen raced their long, sleek craft against one another during festivals honoring Qu Yuan. Over time, competitors began building ornately decorated vessels that were faster than their everyday fishing boats. Teak hulls eventually gave way to fiberglass.

Today, more than 20 dragon boat festivals are held annually in U.S. and Canadian cities, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia — and now, Pittsburgh.

— Bruce Steele