中华龙舟、西溪蒋村龙舟介绍(中英文)

中华龙舟起源

The Origin of Chinese Loong Boat Festival

龙是中国最大的神物,也是最大的吉祥物。龙在华夏五千年的历史中有着无比重要的地位。它不仅仅是雨神和风调雨顺的象征。从夏商开始，龙就已成为中华民族吉祥权威象征物。后世历朝历代皇帝被称为“真龙天子”，而整个中华民族都称自己是龙的传人。单从这方面来说，中国的loong与西方的dragon就有着非常大的区别。

Chinese Loong is the largest divine creature in China, and it is also the largest mascot in Chinese history. Loong has a very important position in the 5000 years Chinese history which is just as the symbol of the God of Rain and Prosperity.

From the beginning of Xia and Shang dynasties (21st~16th century BC), Loong has become a symbol of Chinese auspicious authority.

Emperors of different dynasties are called “the Avatar of the

Loong", and the whole Chinese unity call themselves “the Descendants of the Loong”. In this respect alone, there is a big difference between China's Loong and the western dragon.

中华民族对龙的崇拜历史久远，从最早发现的龙图形，距今已有七八千年。龙是治水英雄夏禹的化身。在宋朝年间，下令祭祀河神，就将龙摆上了祭祀位，从此以后，江河湖泊凡有水处，皆归龙神和龙王支配，更有后来的皇帝下诏天下，封龙为王，龙王就成为了河海诸神之尊。

Chinese has a very long history of worship of Loong. The appearance of the first Loong image can be tracked back to seven thousand or eight thousand years ago. Loong is the embodiment of The Great Yu who is flood-control hero in ancient China. In Song Dynasty(10th~13th century AD), The government ordered the ritual of the river god, which Loong was put on the shrine. Henceforth, rivers and lakes are considered to be dominated by Loong.

龙和雷公是两个主要的雨神，人们不仅仅把龙看成是造雨的神，也把它看成是繁荣和荣誉的象征。所以人们常常以一些祭祀活动来表达对神明的敬意以及对丰收平安的愿景。

Loong and the master of the thunder are the two major Rain Gods in China. People not only regard the Loong as the rain god but also take it as the symbol of prosperity and honor. Therefore, people often express their respect for Loong as one of the gods and

the vision of harvest and peace with some sacrificial activities.

“loong龙”在中国传统农耕文明中庇护百姓的祥神寓意，而绝非西方“dragon龙”给民众通常展现出来的那种邪恶暴力的负面形象。

In the Chinese traditional agricultural civilization, Loong implies the guardian spirit of the people rather than the negative image of evil and violence that the western "dragon" has.

龙神与端午

The Loong and the Loong Boats Festival

端午节和竞渡的起源与龙有着密切关系，龙舟竞渡应该是史前图腾社会的遗俗。端午节本是吴越民族举行图腾祭的节日，而赛龙舟便是这祭仪中半宗教、半杜会性的娱乐节目。

the Loong Boat Festival and Loong Boat Racing generated from Loong culture. loong boat racing is the relic of prehistoric totem society, which is first celebrated by Wu and Yue totem nationalities in Southern China. And the loong boat racing is the event with both religious rituals and entertainment during the festival.

在急鼓声中，划着那刻画成龙形的独木舟，在水上作竞渡游戏，给图腾神也给自已取乐。而在祭祀中人们为祈求图腾神的欢心和赐福，便发生争作第一到达祭神的竞争。

In the drumbeats, men stroke the Loong shaped canoe to race on the water, please the god and please themselves. Meanwhile in the sacrifice, people who pray for the totem God's favor and blessings, will fight for the first place to sacrifice the competition.

图腾祭的目的是祈吉禳灾，划龙舟也不例外。民以食为天，端午划龙舟所祈求的，除了平安自然还有丰收。

The purpose of totem god worship is to pray for luck and dispel the disaster, Loong boat racing is no exception from that. And the Loong Boat Racing is also for the purpose of peace and harvest.

龙舟竞渡不仅是一场速度的比拼，也是为了祈求龙王保佑风调雨顺、稻谷丰登。

In all, Loong Boat Festival is not only a speed competition, but also to pray for good weather with harvest and prosperity.