CI Got Talents: Rap Song About Dragon Boat Festival
A Traditional Poem
Besides eating Zongzi (dumplings) and racing dragon boats, reciting poems were part of the traditions to celebrate this special occasion in the ancient times. Tang Shi was a poet who lived in Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). His poem “Lunar May: To the Tune of Leaves of Phoenix Tree” (Chinese: 梧叶儿∙五月; Pinyin: wú yè er wǔ yuè)” reads:
曾齐唱
端午词
香艾插交枝
琼酥腕
系彩丝
酒浓时
压匾了黄金钏儿
céng qíchàng
duānwǔ cí
xiāng ài chā jiāo zhī
qióng sū wàn
xì cǎi sī
jiǔ nóng shí
yā biǎnle huángjīn chuàn er
We sang in chorus,
The Dragon Boat Festival Songs,
And crisscrossed moxa twigs,
With colourful silk threads,
Tied around our fair wrists,
In a drunken sleep,
We flattened the golden bracelets.
(English translation by Lu Zhihong, Song Yan and Yu Liannian)
A Modern Rap
CI got talents to celebrate this special occasion with a rap song. This is an interpretation from Gen Z about the legendary origin of the Dragon Boat Festival, retelling the old story in a modern way.
Rap Song About Dragon Boat Festival 3:09
Video: Eat rice dumplings and paddle dragon boats
Lyrics: Bo Zhou and Hope Chen, Singer: Sasa Yang; Video produced by Lily Huang and Emily Dai
Originated from West African folk traditions, rapping is becoming so popular in China that there is an annual Chinese rap competition called “The Rap of China” (Chinese: 中国新说唱; Pinyin: zhōngguó xīn shuōchàng). The show attracted billions of viewers and helped make hip hop mainstream in China, especially among Gen Zs.
The Rapper
Ms Sasa Yang is pursuing her master’s degree in Chinese Language and Philology at Central China Normal University. Besides rapping, she also performs English dramas, and Chinese classical and modern dance.
An avid music lover, Sasa is particularly interested in Korean and Chinese rock and pop bands.
Sasa is joining CI this year as a language teacher. She firmly believes that language is a bridge to other cultures.
Please check out the lyrics in Chinese, Pinyin and English, and rap along!
|
吃粽子，划龙舟 chī zòngzi, huà lóngzhōu | Eat rice dumplings, paddle dragon boats |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
吃粽子，划龙舟 chī zòngzi, huà lóngzhōu | Eat rice dumplings, paddle dragon boats |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
端午节，在五月五
duānwǔ jié, zài wǔ yuè wǔ | Dragon Boat Festival, on the fifth of May |
|
粽子和龙舟，一场特别盛会
zòngzi hé lóngzhōu, yī chǎng tèbié shènghuì | Dumplings and boat racing, it’s quite a display |
|
说这个festival，要纪念hero
shuō zhège festival, yào jìniàn hero | For this festival, we honour a hero |
|
纪念去世的伟大诗人h-e-ro
jìniàn qùshì de wěidà shīrén h-e-ro | A hero and a poet who has long been dead |
|
屈原是他的名，在古代很有名
qūyuán shì tā de míng, zài gǔdài hěn yǒumíng | QU Yuan was his name, was famous in ancient times |
|
身为谋士的他，衷心诉说想法
shēn wéi móushì dì tā, zhōngxīn sùshuō xiǎngfǎ | As a man in the know, he was the emperor’s advisor |
|
他忠诚又可靠 还机智勇敢
tā zhōngchéng yòu kěkào hái jīzhì yǒnggǎn | Faithful and trustworthy, astute and brave |
|
但总有小人在旁边说他坏话
dàn zǒng yǒu xiǎo rén zài pángbiān shuō tā huàihuà | But there were men spoke ill of him |
|
端午节
duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
哒哒哒哒哒哒哒
dá dá dá dá dá dá dá | da da da da da da |
|
端午节
duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
端午节
duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
哒哒哒哒哒哒哒
dá dá dá dá dá dá dá | da da da da da da |
|
端午节
duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
有人诽谤，还有人说谎
yǒurén fěibàng, hái yǒurén shuōhuǎng | Men told lies, lies to defame |
|
他们谗言败坏，屈原名声大坏
tāmen chányán bàihuài, qūyuán míngshēng dà huài | Lies about QU Yuan, bringing disrepute and shame |
|
他们到处轻言，皇帝听信谣言
tāmen dàochù qīng yán, huángdì tīngxìn yáoyán | The emperor heard the rumours which had been spread |
|
唯有，那流放才能免于斩首 wéi yǒu, nà liúfàng cáinéng miǎn yú zhǎnshǒu | Only banishment could spare his head |
|
这一定不是真的，竟敢如此说朕 zhè yīdìng bùshì zhēn de, jìng gǎn rúcǐ shuō zhèn | That’s not gonna be true, who is the man who’d say such things about me |
|
这一定不是真的，谁敢如此说朕 zhè yīdìng bùshì zhēn de, shéi gǎn rúcǐ shuō zhèn |
That’s not gonna be true, who is the man who’d say such things about me |
|
谁是大胆狂徒，朕听了狂怒 shéi shì dàdǎn kuáng tú, zhèn tīngle kuángnù | Who is this most malicious one |
|
嫉妒者们装冤：这绝对是屈原 jídù zhěmen zhuāng yuān: Zhè juéduì shì qūyuán | Those jealous ones shouted: it’s QU Yuan |
|
端午节 duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
哒哒哒哒哒哒哒 dá dá dá dá dá dá dá | da da da da da da |
|
端午节 duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
端午节 duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
哒哒哒哒哒哒哒 dá dá dá dá dá dá dá | da da da da da da |
|
端午节 duānwǔ jié | Dragon Boat Festival |
|
吃粽子，划龙舟 chī zòngzi, huà lóngzhōu | Eat rice dumplings, paddle dragon boats |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
吃粽子，划龙舟 chī zòngzi, huà lóngzhōu | Eat rice dumplings, paddle dragon boats |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
本是忠臣却遭贬谪，只好无奈叹气 běn shì zhōngchén què zāo biǎnzhé, zhǐhǎo wúnài tànqì | Despite being loyal, he was exiled and left helpless (sighed in despair!) |
|
面对外来侵略，他报国复家心切 miàn duì wàilái qīnlüè, tā bàoguó fù jiā xīnqiè | Faced with foreign aggression, he was eager to restore his motherland |
|
无法精忠报国，他只好著书立说 wúfǎ jīngzhōng bàoguó, tā zhǐ hǎo zhù shū lì shuō | Unable to serve the country faithfully, he could only express his grief in writing |
| 无奈祖国灭亡，他心情悲愤郁结 | When the motherland was destroyed, he was filled with sorrow and indignation |
|
屈原伤心过度，绝望投入河渡 qūyuán shāngxīn guòdù, juéwàng tóurù hédù | Qu Yuan was broken-hearted from grief, chose to jump into the river |
|
百姓念其忠诚，纷至江边祭魂
bǎixìng niàn qí zhōngchéng, fēn zhì jiāng biān jì hún | Moved by his loyalty, people came to the river to mourn him |
|
击浆划船呼喊，敲锣打鼓找寻
jī jiāng huáchuán hūhǎn, qiāo luó dǎgǔ zhǎoxún | Paddled boats to call out his name, beat drums to search for his body |
|
又恐鱼虾咬身，投粽入水相引
yòu kǒng yú xiā yǎo shēn, tóu zòng rùshuǐ xiāng yǐn | Feared of his body being shredded by fish and prawns, threw rice dumplings into the water to lure them away |
|
民间粽子芳香，江湖龙舟徜徉
mínjiān zòngzi fāngxiāng, jiānghú lóngzhōu chángyáng | Dumplings are fragrant, dragon boats are in the rivers and lakes |
|
所以现在we remember，屈原a great member
suǒyǐ xiànzài we remember, qūyuán a great member | So today we remember, Qu Yuan is a hero |
|
屈原因他而得名的端午节
qū yuan yīn tā ér dé míng de duānwǔ jié | Qu Yuan also a poet who gave us Duan Wu Jie (Dragon Boat Festival) |
|
快来一起赛龙舟
kuài lái yīqǐ sài lóngzhōu | Come to watch the dragon boats |
|
听那鼓声轰隆隆
tīng nà gǔ shēng hōnglóng lóng | Hear the drums beat |
|
吃粽子，甜蜜的样子
chī zòngzi, tiánmì de yàngzi | Eat Zongzi, so sweat |
|
吃粽子吃粽子，划龙舟 chī zòngzi, huà lóngzhōu | Eat rice dumplings, paddle dragon boats |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
|
吃粽子，划龙舟 chī zòngzi, huà lóngzhōu | Eat rice dumplings, paddle dragon boats |
|
追念一位古代的hero zhuī niàn yī wèi gǔdài de hero | Commemorating a hero from long ago |
(image sourced from ChinaHighlights.com)
Happy Dragon Boat Festival!
duānwǔ jié kuàilè!
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.