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The Daoist Outlook・040

May 30, 2025


Dragon Boat Festival


   Every year, on the fifth day of the fifth moon, many Asian cultures honor the Dragon Boat Festival. It's attributed to a nobel Prime Minister, Qu Yuan, from over 2000 years ago. According to legend, he drowned himself out of political protest, and all the people rushed out in their boats to try and save him. When they couldn't rescue him in time, the people threw dumplings of sticky rice called "zong zi" into the water so that all the fish would eat those instead of their beloved Prime Minister. What a cute story!

   This annual holiday is typically celebrated with lots of festive foods, bright colors, and fun activities - most notably, the dragon boat races! Likened to the paddle boats or canoes of traditional Polynesian cultures, dragon boats are usually bright, colorful, and ornate. The timing, power, and precision of a race serve as symbolic reminders to the village that we achieve things as a team - the perfect lesson for those hot-headed summer moons where we are more prone to pushing people away and pushing forward all alone.

✧ Dragon Boat Race ✧

Find your Tribe: You're racing in a boat, not a kayak.
Keep the Beat: Many members, one consistent rhythm.
Fill a Gap: Let everyone play to their individual strengths.
Pace Yourself: Your whole crew is counting on you!
Ride the Tide: Don't lead your team upstream.

Team Work makes the Dream Work


Contents

・Shifu Says: A brief word from our head teacher, Shifu David Wei.
・Tea of the Month: A new month means we get a new flavor!
・The Daoist Calendar:
Special holidays and how to observe them.
・Madame Xu's Lunar News: Insights from our Hong Kong Oracle 
・Sit Down w/ Scott Jensen: Shifu gets interviewed by a local legend!

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