Drums thundered on the river. The dragon boatman shook off his arms and rowed hard with the sound of drums. Each dragon boat is like an arrow leaving a string, breaking through the calm river. The crowd on the bank was so crowded that the sound of cheering was deafening... This was the scene of "super burning" at the 2023 Miluo River International Dragon Boat Invitational Competition held in Miluo, Hunan on June 21.

2023 Miluo River International Dragon Boat Invitational Competition. Photographed by Sun Chao

"You said that he jumped into the sky. I know he became a god with sand". 2300 years ago, Qu Yuan, the great patriotic poet, sank down in Huaisha, Miluo River, and became a swan song for thousands of years. Miluo is the place where Qu Yuan spent his later years chanting and seeking, where romantic poetry originated, and where Qu Yuan's culture was inherited. It is known as the "source of the Dragon Boat Festival, the hometown of dragon boats, and the hometown of poetry".

For more than 2000 years, the string song and oar sound of Miluo River have been incessant, and the Dragon Boat Festival dragon boat culture has been passed down from generation to generation in this hot land.

Strive to be the first. Photographed by Liu Bin

On Miluo River

Dragon Boat Competition

Before the competition started, Peng Cijin, the leader of the dragon boat team in Guiyi Town, Miluo City, had already worked hard and prepared for the "water pumping" with the team members. In his words and deeds, he expressed confidence that he would win.

"Last year, our team won the first place in the folk group, and this year can't be worse than last year!" The sun is in full swing, and 47 year old Peng Cijin's face is tanned. The team uniform on his upper body is an orange red short sleeve with auspicious clouds printed on it. With a competition certificate and a silver steel whistle on his chest, he looked energetic and energetic.

According to legend, after Qu Yuan sank into the Miluo River more than 2000 years ago, people spontaneously rowed boats to rescue him. Since then, the custom of Dragon Boat Race has gradually formed and has continued to this day.

Dragon Boat Race. Photographed by Liu Bin

This year's Miluo River International Dragon Boat Race is divided into two parts. The International Dragon Boat Race uses 22 person standard dragon boats to compete. Eight international dragon boat teams and 12 domestic dragon boat teams were invited to participate in the 500 meter straight race; There are also folk dragon boat races that return to tradition in form and show the "original Dragon Boat Festival".

Peng Cijin's dragon boat team has 42 members. "In the morning, we represented Miluo Team to participate in the domestic group competition, and in the afternoon, we participated in the folk group competition." He said that since he was young, he has watched his grandfather and father row dragon boats, and has a deep love for this sport. "I remember my father told me that if you want to row a dragon boat well, you have to do it yourself." Peng Cijin officially started to row a dragon boat when he was 18 or 19 years old, and has insisted on it for nearly 30 years.

When it comes to experience and skills, Peng Cijin has some insights: "From the sitting position to the oar down, we should pay attention to it. The sitting position should ensure that we can use the strength of the two legs to push forward and back up. When we set sail, the oars should be deep into the water and fast out of the water. The helmsman, rower, drummer, etc. should follow the same rhythm and work hard. It is the key to truly achieve unity."

"In my impression, in the 1980s and 1990s, every time there was a dragon boat race, there would be a crowd. At that time, the bank of the Miluo River was not hardened. Many people took off their shoes and stood barefoot in the water to watch the race." Peng Cijin told reporters that now, many young people are also very interested in dragon boat racing. "This year, more than ten young men from my dragon boat team came back from other places to participate in the competition."

Race dragon boats on Miluo River. Photographed by Juan

After the grand finishing ceremony, there was only one whistle, and the teams quickly lined up to gather. A fierce dragon boat race was staged in the Miluo River. The audience flocked to the shore in order to occupy the best position to see the bustling and wonderful dragon boat race.

The rhythmic drum sounds spread from the river, which is the horn to urge the dragon boat rowers to beat their hearts.

"The countdown begins! The race begins!" With a call, the dragon boat rowers were holding the drum, struggling to shake off their arms and paddle the wooden oars. Dragon boats galloped on the river, leaving long white marks behind. "Come on, come on!" The audience shouted loudly, and the Miluo River was full of fiery enthusiasm.

First place in domestic group! After many rounds of competition, Peng Cijin's dragon boat team has achieved good results.

"It's a surprise, but it's not unexpected. Because we have made full preparations for this game." Just off the court, he shared the joy of winning with reporters, with an overwhelming joy in his voice. During the training half a month before the competition, he and his team members should row 8 times a day along the 500 meter track, and the training time should not be less than 8 hours.

"During the training, villagers and units nearby often send milk, mineral water and other materials to the riverside spontaneously, which is a kind of recognition and affirmation for us." Peng Cijin said that he and his team members are members of the community volunteer service team and often participate in volunteer service activities.

In his opinion, dragon boat racing not only brings people health and happiness, but also boosts the popularity of their hometown, gathers people's hearts, and reflects the cohesion of traditional culture and the spirit of striving for progress.

"As long as I can row, I will participate in the Dragon Boat Race every year and strive for the third consecutive championship next year!" Peng Cijin set the goal of the Dragon Boat Festival next year.

The boat crosses the river. Photographed by Liu Bin

Miluo River

Dragon boat culture is inherited from generation to generation

Sawing wood, cutting boards, nailing boats, painting... When the Dragon Boat Festival comes, the Jiuzilong Quyuan Dragon Boat Factory in Quzici Town, Miluo City, beside the Miluo River is busy. Xu Guisheng, 64, carried the painted dragon head on his shoulder and steadily installed it into the hull of the ship to be completed.

This year, the Dragon Boat Factory has sold more than 200 dragon boats, a record number. "Not only the southern provinces buy our dragon boats, but also our products from the north to Heilongjiang and the west to Xinjiang."

From the age of 15, he learned carpentry from his father. At the age of 20, he began to build dragon boats. Today, Xu Guisheng is the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of the skills of making dragon boats in Miluo, Hunan Province. It has been handed down to his son for six generations.

From material selection and logging to setting out and supporting platform; Xu Guisheng is proficient in more than 10 processes of traditional wooden dragon boats, from boat building, sewing to painting and scale painting. "The boat body is made of fir, and the dragon head must be made of cinnamomum camphor. In order to make the dragon boat strong and durable, tung oil and lime must be painted on it, which is the traditional craft."

But in Xu Guisheng's view, for Miluo people for generations, dragon boats are a kind of culture and a way of life, not just "making a boat".

In 1980, the Miluo folk dragon boat race, which had been interrupted for many years, resumed. At one time, the streets were crowded and bustling. Everyone gathered from all directions to the Miluo River with dry food and children. Xu Guisheng, who was only 21 years old at that time, had studied carpentry for six years. He had just been "qualified" to build a dragon boat with his father, and also witnessed the event. "Many people felt that they were not satisfied on the shore, and they all ran into waist deep water. Our generation still remembers that scene clearly," said Xu Guisheng with a smile.

As a craftsman making dragon boats, Xu Guisheng knows best that in the era of scarcity of materials, the making of a dragon boat often embodies the dedication of the whole village and community.

The dragon boat under construction. Photographed by Liu Bin

"Ten jin of rice, a few pieces of preserved meat, and a few baskets of rice are just like this dragon boat. At that time, there was no unified standard for dragon boats, and it all depended on the skills and ideas of the master of ink painting." Xu Guisheng said that there was a saying in Miluo, "The words of the boat". It is difficult to explain the exact meaning of this sentence, but one thing can be sure, that is, in Miluo, "the dragon boat should be made with a sense of respect and responsibility".

Xu Guisheng said that in the process of making the dragon boat, the words "roll, hit, sink, turn and slow" should never be said. "It's all unlucky. In the past, people thought that it might indicate capsizing, fighting or losing the game."

Miluo also has a saying, "Ning Huang one year field, not lose the boat in May", which vividly shows the Miluo people's "competitiveness" in the Dragon Boat Festival race. Contrary to people's imagination, the Dragon Boat Festival in May does not necessarily require a dragon boat race. "Fishing boats, bamboo rafts, and even grain buckets that can float in the water and carry people can actually be used for racing," said Xu Guisheng. This is the spirit of Miluo people to unite, strive for the first, and never give in. "The village that won the Dragon Boat must be happy to set off firecrackers and be proud for a while."

Under the influence of tradition, the skills are not necessarily conservative - dragon boats are also modernized. With the introduction of the national standard of dragon boat, Xu Guisheng continuously improved the manufacturing process of dragon boat, and applied new materials such as glass fiber reinforced plastic and epoxy resin to the body and bottom of wooden dragon boat. This process has won the national patent, making the dragon boat not only maintain the traditional wooden taste, but also reduce the weight and resistance. The front part of the traditional dragon boat touches the water surface at the "triangle head", which has high resistance and low stability. Xu Guisheng led everyone through repeated tests, and now it has been changed to "anti eight head", which has less resistance and runs more stably.

Now, the dragon boat factory he runs is also a member enterprise of the Equipment Committee of China Dragon Boat Association.

Xu Guisheng is in the Dragon Boat Manufacturing Workshop. Photographed by Liu Bin

"In a word, both strength and speed are required. The dragon boat used in the final of the 2009 China Dragon Boat Competition is our equipment. Compared with the pure wooden dragon boat in the past, the improved equipment has greatly improved the performance of each team." In addition to the traditional water dragon boat, new sports equipment such as dry land dragon boat and paddy field dragon boat also came into being, It enriches the application scenarios of dragon boat.

"In the past, when people talked about solo, it meant that technology was only passed on in one vein. But now I say that the dragon boat making technique is not my own, it is everyone's, as long as it can be better developed, it will not be hidden." The apprentice brought by Xu Guisheng over the years has also set up a factory nearby.

At present, there are 23 dragon boat manufacturing enterprises in Miluo. This year, the output value of dragon boat industry is expected to reach 200 million yuan.

Chief planner: Wu Qiqiang

Current coordinator: Peng Yingbing

Author: Sun Chao, Liu Bin

Presented by: Sun Chao

Video shooting/production: Liu Bin, Yang Zhi, Hu Ao, Wang Yihan

Produced by: People's Daily Client Hunan Channel, People's Network Hunan Channel

Submission email: rmrbkhdhnpd@163.com

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