The best-known story about the Dragon Boat Festival is related to the commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278BC). He was born in the State of Chun in the Warring States Period (275-221BC), he became a minister when he was only 20. An aristocrat named Zilan and a treacherous court official named Jin Shang slandered him in front of king, who finally ignored Qu Yuan’s suggestion that Chu must unite the State of Qi to fight against the State of Qin.

As a result, he king was tricked by the persuasive talker—Zhang Yi into going to the State of Qin and was held under house arrest. There he was coerced into ceding his territory and yielding his cities. Seriously ill due to anxiety, the king died. Qu Yuan felt great agony ad he requested the new king to revenge. But the new king didn’t take his advice and he dismissed Qu Yuan from office and sent him into exile as a vagrant. He was not permitted to come back in three years’ time.

Later, the state of Chun was stormed by the troops from the State of Qin. In great despair and pain, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BC (when he was 62), along with a forlorn wish to save his beloved country. It is said he drowned himself on the 5th of the 5th lunar month, and the native Chu people tried to rescue him in boats, but they failed.