This coming week, people all across Mainland China celebrate Duanwu, a holiday known here in the West as Dragon Boat Festival. They eat zongzi — little pyramid-shaped snacks made of glutinous rice, stuffed with something sweet or savory and wrapped in bamboo leaves. But the origin of this holiday is a little bit darker than the tasty food might lead you to believe.

Last week, we looked at Questions of Heaven, a poem that seems to be one royal advisor's expression of frustration of with his king, who appeared intent on sabotaging himself and the nation he was supposed to be ruling. This week, we hear the rest of that story, the widely-held origin of the holiday, and of the traditional snack zongzi.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

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Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"Birdsong in the Tranquil Valley," "Almond Blossom in the Sky," and "Lament at Chang Gate" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.