The Story of Qu Yuan's Suicide by Drowning

Qu Yuan was a great poet and minister in ancient China during the Warring States period. He was deeply concerned about the welfare of his country and people, but his advice was often ignored by the king. Eventually, he was falsely accused of treason and banished from the court.

In despair, Qu Yuan wandered the countryside and wrote some of the most beautiful poetry in Chinese literature. But when he heard that his home state of Chu had been conquered by the Qin army, he was overcome with grief and jumped into the Miluo River to drown himself.

The people of Chu, who loved and respected Qu Yuan, rushed to the river to try to save him. They paddled boats and beat drums to scare away the fish and water creatures that might harm his body. They also threw rice dumplings, called zongzi, into the water to feed the fish and keep them from eating his flesh.

Today, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in China to commemorate Qu Yuan's sacrifice. People eat zongzi, race dragon boats, and remember the great poet who loved his country so much that he gave his life for it.