Antiquity meets modernity

Dragon boat is unique, as a cultural sport, it necessarily maintains roots in both culture and sport. Major races cannot start without summoning the spirit of the dragons from their high perches in the remote mountains and clouds, nor can it happen without aerospace grade paddles and frame-by-frame analysis of finish line times. Learn more about the roots of dragon boat in ancient Chinese traditions, and its modern evolution.

Ancient Chinese Traditions

Dragon boat racing has its roots in ancient myths and legends. Multiple legends are tied to its truly ancient roots before the unification of China, including being a fertility rite during the Summer Solstice to ensure plentiful crops, mock battles to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon, prayers to avert illnesses caused by poisonous creatures such as frogs, scorpions, and snakes as villagers went into the fields to harvest crops, and worship of the water dragons as representative of the Jade Emperor.

However, the best known story revolves around the time of the unification of China, about 2,000 years ago. During the Warring States period in China, politics and society was characterized by treachery and shifting alliances. A powerful court official and legendary poet named Qu Yuan – much loved by the people – was banished from court by the King of Chu. However, in 278 BCE, the Kingdom fell to the Qin army. When word reached Qu Yuan, he leapt into the Miluo River while clutching a heavy rock in despair for the Kingdom he loved.

The local villagers raced out in their boats and tried in vain to save Qu Yuan, beating drums and splashing the water with their paddles to keep the fish and water dragons from his body. They also threw rice wrapped in silk to attract fish elsewhere. While they failed to save him, the traditions carried forward into Chinese tradition over the centuries.

Development of the Duan Wu Festival

This tradition became wrapped with older traditions, and became an opportunity for villages to come together at the opening of the summer harvest season to share their local culture with other villages, showcase their athletic prowess, and to feast together. The silk-wrapped rice became eventually wrapped in bamboo leaves.

These traditions still inspire the Festival. Brightly coloured boats with beating drums traverse the water during the Duan Wu Jie (Double Fifth Festival, meaning the 5th day of the 5th lunar month), or commonly in Western communities, the Dragon Boat Festival. People continue to make and eat 粽子, or zhongzi (bamboo wrapped rice dumplings) during the Festival to commemorate these ancient stories.

Emergence as Sport

From mainland China, the sport spread into periphery regions. In Hong Kong, dragon boat became a strong local tradition celebrated by the fishermen in the area and Taoist temples in a more traditional manner. However, with British influences, dragon boat developed more of a community sport characteristic, while still maintaining links to traditional culture. With the popularity of the sport, Hong Kong saw an opportunity to help promote dragon boat and share it with the world.

Arrival in Canada

In the 1980s and 1990s, trans-Pacific immigration brought new ideas and stories to Vancouver. However, this migration also heightened tensions that run centuries deep in the area. To tackle this issue, the local Chinese community worked together to bring 6 teak dragon boats to Vancouver (courtesy of a gift from the Hong Kong government) to run exhibition races during Expo 86, taking advantage of Expo’s transportation theme.

Dragon boat racing’s Canadian debut at Expo was an overwhelming success, with races on June 14-15 sparking a movement over 30 years in the making now. The popularity of the races in 1986 led to community races in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, the Society was formed to formally continue and promote the Festival. The Society maintains guardianship of the original teak dragon boats that launched this cultural sport in Canada.

From its roots in False Creek, the sport grew rapidly across Canada and has now become the world’s fastest growing sport. Canada has also established itself globally as a dragon boat powerhouse, with teams regularly medalling at international races.

About the Sport

Most races are held in 22 person boats (20 paddlers, 1 drummer, and 1 steersperson), with a smaller boat also used in some races (12 people: 10 paddlers, 1 drummer, and 1 steersperson). The sport is a global phenomenon, with major concentrations of paddlers and events across the world. Notable races include the Hong Kong races and Vancouver.

The sport ranges from a recreational activity for new paddlers of any age, to high performance sport where milliseconds determine medal positions. The continent’s largest race is the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival, usually held each year in late June on False Creek.

Come down to our events and races to learn how to paddle, or to watch world-class racing!

Awakening of the Dragons – Boat Blessing and Eye Dotting Ceremony

Please join us for this ancient ceremony:

2023 Festival Blessing Ceremony  |  Saturday June 17, 1:30 PM  |  Creekside Paddling Centre, 1 Athletes Way

An ancient ceremony conducted on the shores of False Creek. Join us as our dragon boats come to life.  

The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society is honoured to invite you to witness an ancient Taoist blessing and eye-dotting ceremony. Be present as our dragon boats come to life, and the spirit of the dragon is summoned to the water in advance of the Festival. This event is conducted by the International Taoist Church of Canada.

  • FREE ADMISSION

Media Information and RSVP: info@dragonboatbc.ca


Each year, we honour the ancient Chinese traditions behind dragon boat racing with traditional Eye Dotting and Dragon Boat Blessing Ceremony. We invite priests and members of the congregation of the International Taoist Church of Canada to the waters of False Creek to conduct this ancient and colourful ritual.

The dragon boats – “dressed” with ornate dragon heads and tails – are lined up. The chanting begins. The priests invoke the Goddess of the Sea, the Saints and the Immortals through chanting, invocation and burning joss sticks.

This cleanses and blesses the racecourse, the competitors and their boats and charges all with the strength of the dragon. The priests make offerings to the five elements and directions: joss sticks representing wood for the east, flowers representing metal for the west, candles representing fire for the south, water representing its elemental self for the north and fruit representing the earth for the centre.

Ancient Chinese dragon mythology has it that the dragon sleeps in the mountains, and travels to the water at the moment when the eyes of the dragon are dotted. Guest dignitaries assist in this rite, dipping brushes in pots of red cinnabar paint and dabbing the eyes on the boats’ dragon heads.

At the end of the ceremony the priests nourish and appease other souls that might be present by throwing them 18 coins and coloured beans representing the five elements and directions. Taoism is one of the world’s oldest religions, originating in ancient China. Members of the International Taoist Church of Canada are devotees of the Complete Reality School – Dragon Gate Sect and follow the teachings of the Immortals, master Lu Sun-Young, Master Wong Chung-Young and his disciple Master Yau Cheung-Chun.

© 2024 Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society