Atop Zhongzi Shantai, the wind whispers stories of a different kind of feast. This isn’t a feast of emperors or generals, but a feast for fish, a desperate attempt to appease the river gods and preserve a hero’s body. Zhongzi Shantai, though not directly linked to the tradition, shares the same sky and the same ancient history as the Dragon Boat Festival and the tradition of zongzi. The Dragon Boat Festival, held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a poet and minister who drowned himself in the Miluo River in 278 BC. Distraught by his kingdom’s capture, Qu Yuan chose death over surrender. The people, mourning their beloved minister, raced out in boats, scattering rice dumplings into the river. They hoped to satiate the fish and protect Qu Yuan’s body from being devoured. These rice dumplings, now called zongzi, are traditionally made of glutinous rice, wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, and filled with various sweet or savory ingredients. The tradition evolved, the fillings diversified, and the shapes changed from region to region. From simple rice to elaborate combinations of meat, nuts, and beans, zongzi became a symbol of remembrance and cultural identity. Here, on Zhongzi Shantai, as you gaze out at the vast landscape, imagine those first frantic attempts to save a hero’s body. The wind carries the echoes of their grief and the enduring legacy of Qu Yuan, a man whose memory is preserved in every bite of zongzi enjoyed during the Dragon Boat Festival. Though the Zhongzi Shantai itself might not be the central stage of this story, it stands as a silent witness to the passage of time, the resilience of tradition, and the enduring power of a story told and retold across generations.
Zhongzi Shantai
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