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Team
Scrapbook Explore the team scrapbook with comments and well deserved jibes from throughout the season. These guys were a bunch of clowns, and it shows here! |
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Personal
Photo Gallery Created for the team's Mom's and Dad's, we have all the pictures of your lovely little Dragon Boater compiled in one convenient place! |
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1999 Men's Team | |||||||||||
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1999 Women's Team | |||||||||||
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Team
Guestbook Please leave your comments to the team here. |
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1999 Race Results | |||||||||||
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In the News! Pictures and articles from various newspapers about the MTC team! |
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History of Chu Yuan (Qu Yuan, 332-296 B.C.) | |||||||||||
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People in the area set
out in boats to rescue him. But though they followed the Milo River
from the point where Chu Yuan had jumped
in all the way to its outlet at Tungting Lake, no trace of his body was ever found.
Later, the populace threw cooked grains of rice into the river. Some later chroniclers
saw this as an attempt to draw fish from his body; others, as a ritual
sacrifice to Chu Yuan's spirit. It was the fifth day of the fifth month
according to the lunar calendar: One of China's early literary masters,
and perhaps its greatest patriot ever, had consigned himself to eternity.
Rowing dragon boats began
as a ceremony for supplicating the God of Water to prevent disaster
and bring fortune. It was later attached to the rural custom of punting on
the Milo River in search for Chu Yuan's body. With the melding of these
traditions, dragon boat racing today has become the highlight of all
the festivities held during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Before a dragon boat may
enter competition, it must first undergo a ceremony to "bring it to
life." Local leaders officiate over the ceremony, held on the first
day of the fifth lunar month, offering prayers to the Daffodil Noble
King, and the eyes of the dragon are painted onto the boat, bringing him to
life. On the fifth day of the month, the boats are carried to the shore
amidst the clamor of gongs and drums and a ceremony is held involving
incense, prayers, and the lighting of fireworks. Finally, after thorough
inspection, the boats enter the water for competition.
When the race begins,
all one can see is the rowers of each team driving their boats forward
in unison to the beat of drums. The winning team is the one that first
grabs the flag at the end of the river course and the difference between
victory and defeat may be only a few fractions of a second. The energy
and excitement of the race attracts thousands of spectators, who watch
from the river bank, cheering on their favorite team.
Unlike so many other traditions
that are gradually falling victim to the march of time, dragon boat
rowing has retained its vibrancy in modern society, becoming increasingly
popular with each passing year--both as a sport for physical training,
and as a favorite spectacle to be enjoyed by the entire family.
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This website was brought to you by Mike
Rogero and Lynn
F. Lee. Copyright 1999-2003 Mike Rogero & Lynn F. Lee |
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One of the more facinating
cultural icons in Asia are the dragon boat races. Somewhere around 504 A.D.,
a local poet in revolt against an unfit Emperor--an Emperor who believed the lies
of his advisors over one of the greatest scholars, poets and ministers
China has ever known--grasped a big stone to his chest, took a step into
the Milo River, and soon disappeared into the flowing waters below.
