If you are based in the United States, there is no doubt that you may disagree that you are familiar with the concept of Dragon Boating. Contrary to popular belief, Dragon Boating is a concept that originated in the deep lands of China and may have been brought to US territory by Chinese immigrants and developed into a fascinating and exciting sport there.
The dragon boat consists of a very narrow and long boat manned by about 22 men who sit in a line behind each other. This is a racing sport where many teams compete for first place and decorate their boats with dragon heads and tails making it look like a Chinese dragon. This is why the name “Dragon Boat Racing” came about.
Few people have the misconception that dragon boat racing evolved from the rowing teams of the Ivy League in the United States. Before the boats are lowered into the water, a lot of preparation is made to make the boats look like dragons. A dragon’s head is attached to the front of the boat and a dragon’s tail is placed at the stern. A lot of paint work was also done on the boat and then the paddles were made to look like wings or feet of a dragon. A large drum was also placed on board the long, narrow boat with a drummer, called a “cox” beating the drum to keep the classmen in time and encourage the ten to give their best in the race.
In ancient times there lived an ancient Chinese national poet named Qu Yuan. The Dragon Boat Race is organized every year to commemorate the death of a patriot and this date corresponds to the Chinese calendar 5/5 which is usually the month of June.
It’s thrilling to watch a team of dragon boats rowing for a better time every time they get into the water. The whole team consists of 22 rowers and one caller or drummer and one who steers the man at the end of the boat.. The caller either calls out the rowmen or beats the drum to help the rowers keep time and give a better time. The steer man controls the rudder so that the boat moves in a straight line.
The drummer is the main person or the heart of the team. His job is to lead the entire rowing team of the dragon boat with the rhythmic blows of his drum. He can make the row of rowers faster or slower by increasing the beats of his gourd. He usually matches the paddler’s speed by increasing his beat according to the speed of the drummers around him.
Dragon boating is a sport that attracts teams from all over the world. Tens of thousands come to participate in this sporting event organized to commemorate the death of national poet Qu Yuan. This type of racing has a very ancient and rich history and it is a pleasure to watch or participate in it.