Philadelphia Flying Phoenix dragonboat team

				THE LEGEND

				Dragonboat racing commemorates the life and death of Chu Yuan (340-280BC), a political leader of the state of Chu. Chu Yuan was recognized as a great poet and political leader of ancient China. He lost the trust of the Emperor and saw his home state of Chu fall into the hands of inept officials. The country was weakened, and this invited invasion by powerful invaders. In despair, Chu Yuan drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.
				The people of Chu rushed out in their fishing boats trying to rescue him, but in vain. They beat their drums and threw rice dumplings into the water in order to keep the dragons and fish from eating the body of their beloved poet. In memory of Yuan's sacrifice for honor and justice, athletes gather to race their dragonboats in annual dragonboat festivals held throughout the world.