From sci-fi Qu Yuan to Animal Crossing zongzi, 5 pop culture nods to Dragon Boat Festival
- While the story behind dragon boat racing and rice dumplings is 2,000 years old, modern movies, games and shows keep the traditions alive
Participants take part in the dragon boat race in Aberdeen. Photo: Sam TsangAs China’s first festival recognised by Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the revered poet Qu Yuan, a loyal minister who was falsely accused of treason and exiled during the Warring States period.
Legend has it that as Qu Yuan drowned in the Miluo River, people tossed rice into the water to prevent fish from devouring his body. Today, this event is celebrated through dragon boat races and the making of zongzi, sticky rice dumplings, as a way to honour this patriot.
While the festival’s rituals have stood the test of time for centuries, its influence has also made a delightful impact on modern pop culture – from films to animation and even gaming. We will explore five pop culture references that pay a nod to the spirit of this beloved festival.
What you should know about the Dragon Boat Festival
1. Dragon’s Delusion reimagines Qu Yuan as a robot
What if Qu Yuan, the great poet behind this festival, was reborn as a robot? Set in a futuristic world, Dragon’s Delusion is a sci-fi animated film from Hong Kong artist Kongkee that portrays Qu Yuan as a figure dressed in a sleek suit and skilled at playing the electric guitar. His memories have been infused in a robot named Joe, who embarks on a journey from Hong Kong to the Miluo River, seeking his true identity and free will.
2. Playing dress up in Hong Kong’s dragon boat races
Hong Kong’s International Dragon Boat Races isn’t just about competition and athleticism. On the final day of the races, it has become part of the event’s tradition for contestants to take to the waters dressed in their finest costumes. At last year’s event, Hongkongers dressed up as pigs, mahjong titles and even anime characters from the hit series Spy x Family as they paddled along the harbour.
3. 2018 film Men on the Dragon
While dragon boat races originated from the Lingnan region of China, the modern version developed in Hong Kong some 40 years ago. In 1976, the first international dragon boat race took place in Hong Kong, with nine local teams racing against a Japanese team.
A 2018 Hong Kong sports comedy, Men on the Dragon, taps into this niche sport. The story follows four telecommunications employees going through midlife crises as they decide to join the company’s dragon boat team, hoping it will save them from losing their jobs. Directed by Sunny Chan Wing-sun, this local film captures the tenacity and spirit of the sport.
4. Chinese drama sees “zongzi” as power
In this 2018 Chinese television series Ashes of Love, rice dumplings are more than just staple food for the Dragon Boat Festival – they hold power. In one episode, the daughter of a flower deity called Jin Mi is eager for more power, so she eats the king of rice dumplings, which grants her 500 years of spiritual energy.
5. Festival zongzi in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
This beloved social simulation game that soared in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic also featured its own version of the traditional Chinese rice dumpling. By eating these festival zongzi, players can earn five energy points and move trees or shatter rocks.