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The Dragon Boat Festival, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, has had a history of morethan 2,000 years. It is usually in June in the Gregorian calendar. 端午节是古老的传统节日，始于中国的春秋战国时期，至今已有2000多年历史。 There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is incommemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and oneof China's earliest poets. In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocatedenriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin.However, he was opposed by aristocrats headed by Zi Lan, and later deposed and exiled byKing Huai. 据《史记》“屈原贾生列传记载，屈原，是春秋时期楚怀王的大臣。他倡导举贤授能，富国强兵，力主联齐抗秦，遭到贵族子兰等人的强烈反对，屈原遭馋去职，被赶出都城，流放到沅、湘流域。 In his exiled days, he still cared much for his country and people and composed immortalpoems including Li Sao (The Lament), Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions) and Jiu Ge (Nine Songs),which had far-reaching influences. In 278 BC, he heard the news that Qin troops had finallyconquered Chu's capital, so he finished his last piece Huai Sha (Embracing Sand) and plungedhimself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a large stone. The day happened to be the 5thof the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar. | 
