Qu Yuan [Chu Yuan] - The GreatPoet

1. Qu Yuan [Chu Yuan] - The GreatPoet Qu Yuan, the chief poet in the Songs of Chu, was a member of the ruling house, a stateman and diplomat. In his youth, he has a brilliant official career and was made a court minister and at one time the Chu envoy to Chi (in Shantung), a great neiboring state. But Chu Yuan's comet-like success incurred the jealousy of his fellow ministers, who slandered and intrigued against him. In consequence Chu Yuan lost the king's favor and was dismissed from office.

2. There were several ups and downs in his career - for after each banishment he was recalled to court, only to be again rebuffed and disgraced. In the meantime, his country was in danger. Failing to heed Chu Yuan's advice, the king of Chu foolishly went to a conference with the king of Chin (in Shensi), the most powerful military state in that period; he was held there by the Chin army and died in captivity. His son, the new king, instead of avenging his father's death, made a humiliating peace with his enemy. This, however, did not deter Chin's aggressive designs against Chu, and Chu Yuan, who had started his exile as a result of his political failure, lived long enough to see the capital of his state plundered and ruined by the conquering army of Chin in 278 b.c. At that time, Chu Yuan was already an old man of over sixty, and the fall of the Chu capital was the last blow to his patriotic hope. He does not seem to have long survived his diaster, for the next we hear of him is that he had drowned himself in the river Mi-lo.

3. Tradition says that his death occurred on the fifth day of the fifth moon (month). Ever since, the day is celebrated as the Day of Dragon Boat Festival to commemorate his drowning. • As the first known great poet in China, Chu Yuan has been called the father of Chinese poetry and has become, in the opinion of some, a national culture hero. • The Mountain Spirit Nine Songs Chu Ci

5. Let’s celebrate the ! festivals

6. Chinese New Year 春节 let off fireworks 放烟花 get lucky money 收压岁钱 eat dumplings

7. the Mid-Autumn Festival eat mooncakes tell the story of Chang’e get together 相聚

8. dragon boat race 龙舟比赛 rice dumpling 粽子 Dragon Boat Festival To remember Qu Yuan

9. 端午节轶事 Dragon Boat Festival •  A Chinese holiday is gaining worldwide popularity •     Some holidays are so much fun that they catch on outside of their culture. The most obvious example is probably Christmas, which is celebrated around the world by people who aren’t even Christian. Similarly, in recent years, the Dragon Boat Festival has moved beyond China to become an international holiday celebrated by people who may know little about the holiday’s origins.

10. The Dragon Boat Festival is one of three major Chinese holidays, along with the Spring and Moon Festivals. Of the three, it is possibly the oldest, dating back to the Warring States Period in 227 B.C. The festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a minister in the service of the Chu Emperor. Despairing over corruption at court, Qu threw himself into a river. Townspeople jumped into their boats and tried in vain to save him. Then, hoping to distract hungry fish from his body, the people scattered rice on the water.

11. Over the years, the story of Qu’s demise transformed into the traditions of racing dragon boats and eating zongzi – a kind of rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. The races have certainly captured the imagination of people from all over the world. Every spring there are nearly 60 dragon boat races held outside of China in cities from Vancouver to Sydney, from Gdańsk, Poland to Cape Town, South Africa. Canada alone has nearly 50 dragon boat teams and Germany has nearly 30.

12. So what is it about the Dragon Boat Festival that appeals to foreigners? “It’s an unusual sport,” says one racer from Germany. “It’s not like everybody’s doing it. That’s one of the reasons that there’s such great team spirit in a dragon boat team – everybody feels like we’re doing something special.” And what about the zongzi? “Ehhh, they’re not bad, I guess,” he says. “Something of an acquired taste. I just haven’t really acquired it yet.”

13. chocolate eggs Easter (复活节)

14. Easter Easter comes in March(三月) or April(四月). This is a religious(宗教的)holiday, It also celebrates the coming of spring. At Easter, children get presents like toy rabbits or chickens and chocolate eggs. On Easter Sunday, many people go to church(教堂). Questions: 1. When does Easter come? 2. What presents do children get at Easter?

16. Christmas card Christmas tree Christmas

17. Halloween pumpkinlantern 南瓜灯 ghost 鬼 dress up 装扮 Monkey King

19. Can you write down the names of the festivals according to the pictures? Mid-Autumn Festival Easter Dragon Boat Festival Christmas Chinese New Year Halloween

20. Discussion Which is your partner’s favourite festival? Useful sentences: Which is your favourite festival? Why do you like…? Because I like to…

21. Activities 1.Suppose(假设) you meet up with a foreigner(外国人) in the street, and he/she wants to know sth. about Chinese New Year/ Mid-Autumn Festival/ Dragon Boat Festival. Please make up a short dialogue with your partner. 2.You are talking to Simon, your e-friend, on the phone. You wants to know more about Easter/ Christmas/ Halloween. Please make up a short dialogue with your partner.

22. Useful information

23. Thank you!