Chu Yuan was a high official of CHU Kingdom, one of the 7 strongest of that time. That period of time in China history is quite turbulent, when every kingdom was trying hard to survive from chaos and to take over as much land from others to get larger. With an insight of that situation, Chu Yuan tried to persuade King of CHU to build close political and military relationships with several other kingdoms to resist invasion of Qin, a then powerhouse. But he failed, many times, and then was exiled from his country due to these attempts.
On May 5, 278 B.C, when Chu Yuan knew that the capital city of CHU had been occupied by Qin's army, he wrote his last poem and throwed himself into MINLUO River, holding a big rock to eliminate last chance of life.
Though his suggestions was not appreciated by his king, Chu Yuan was still a household name known for his loyalty for his nation. When news went out that Chu Yuan was committing a suicide in river, people all around hurried out boating to rescue, but too late. Seeing last hope was gone, people took out cooked rice and put them into the river to lure fishes and shrimps away and his body could be preserved.
Besides loyalty, Chu Yuan was also a renown for his talent in poetry. After exile, Chu Yuan wrote some long poems to express his love for the country, hopelessness of the current situation and determination never to give up.
Ever since then, boating in MINLUO River and eating rice on May 5th comes into a tradition in Chu Yuan's memory, an honor well deserved for a man like him.
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