36. wash
37. fly
38. drive
39. turn
40. bring
41. use
42. do
43. put
44. eat
45. drink
46. feel
47. wear
48. take off(cloths)
Download
49. take
50. kick
51. should
52. ask
53. give
54. borrow
55. invite
56. introduce
57. read
58. write
59. change
60. help
61. repair
62. take a rest
63. smoke(cigarette)
64. move
65. bear
66. die
67. study, learn
68. send
69. receive
70. pick(you up)
71. try
72. work
73. sing(song)
74. sick
75. solve
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month,
has had a history of more than 2,000 years. It is usually in
June in the Gregorian calendar.
There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, t
he most popular of which is in commemoration of Qu Yuan
(340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and
one of China’s earliest poets. In face of great pressure from
the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country
and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against
the Qin. However, he was opposed by aristocrats headed by
Zi Lan, and later deposed and exiled by King Huai. In his exiled
days, he still cared much for his country and people and
composed immortal poems including Li Sao (The Lament),
Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions) and Jiu Ge (Nine Songs),
which had far-reaching influences. In 278 BC, he heard the
news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu’s capital, so
he finished his last piece Huai Sha (Embracing Sand) and
plunged himself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a
large stone. The day happened to be the 5th of the 5th month
in the Chinese lunar calendar. After his death, the people of
Chu crowded to the bank of the river to pay their respects to him.
The fishermen sailed their boats up and down the river to look
for his body. People threw into the water zongzi (pyramid-shaped
glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves)
and eggs to divert possible fish or shrimp from attacking his
body. An old doctor poured a jug of reaglar wine (Chinese liquor
seasoned with realgar) into the water, hoping to turn all aquatic
beasts drunk. That’s why people later followed the customs
such as dragon boat racing, eating zongzi and drinking realgar
wine on that day.
Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival, held
all over the country. As the gun is fired, people will see racers in
dragon-shaped canoes pulling the oars harmoniously and
hurriedly, accompanied by rapid drums, speeding toward their
destination. Folk tales say the game originates from the activities
of seeking Qu Yuan’s body, but experts, after painstaking and
meticulous research, conclude that dragon boat racing is a
semi-religious, semi-entertaining program from the Warring
States Period (475-221 BC). In the following thousands of years, t
he game spread to Japan, Vietnam and Britain as well as China’s
Taiwan and Hong Kong. Now dragon boat racing has developed
into an aquatic sports item which features both Chinese tradition
and modern sporting spirit. In 1980, it was listed into the state
sports competition programs and has since been held every year.
The award is called “Qu Yuan Cup.”
Zongzi is an essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival. It is
said that people ate them in the Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476 BC). In early times, it was only glutinous rice dumplings
wrapped in reed or other plant leaves and tied with colored thread,
but now the fillings are more diversified, including jujube and
bean paste, fresh meat, and ham and egg yolk. If time permits,
people will soak glutinous rice, wash reed leaves and wrap up
zongzi themselves. Otherwise, they will go to shops to buy
whatever stuff they want. The custom of eating zongzi is now
popular in North and South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian
nations.
On Dragon Boat Festival, parents also need to dress their children
up with a perfume pouch. They first sew little bags with colorful silk
cloth, then fill the bags with perfumes or herbal medicines, and
finally string them with silk threads. The perfume pouch will be hung
around the neck or tied to the front of a garment as an ornament.
They are said to be able to ward off evil.