18/06/2026
101 TAO 每日一道：
473 .【19-06-26农历五月初五： 端午节 Duan Wu Festival (Double fifth)】
端午节起源于中国，最初为古代百越地区（长江中下游及以南一带）崇拜龙图腾的部族举行图腾祭祀的节日，百越之地春秋之前有在农历五月初五以龙舟竞渡形式举行部落图腾祭祀的习俗。
后来诗人屈原在该日抱石跳汨罗江自尽，统治者为树立忠君爱国标签将端午作为纪念屈原的节日；部分地区也有纪念古人 伍子胥、曹娥等说法。
端午节与春节、清明节、中元节，七巧节，中秋节、重阳节，冬至节并称为华族的八大传统节日。
古人纪年通用天干地支，农历的正月开始为寅月，按地支“子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥”顺序推算，第五个月正是“午月”，而午时又为“阳辰”，所以端午也叫“端阳”。午，古人与“五”通用，故端午与端五同义。又因其月日数相同，人们又称端午节为“重五节”或“重午节”。
“端”字有“初始”的意思，因此“端五”就是“初五”。而按照历法五月正是“午”月，因此“端五”也就渐渐演变成了“端午”。《燕京岁时记》记载：“初五为五月单五，盖“端”字之转音也。”
端午节原本是古人驱邪避毒、防疫祛病的节日。天气炎热，五月被视为「恶月」，而五日则是「恶日」，容易发瘟疫、百毒出没，故设立此节日来辟邪安康。
农历五月初五，也是道教“五腊”中的”地腊”。腊，即是祭祀的日子，是上天高真集会，考察人间善恶，以定罪福，校定生人官爵，依凭个人功德，赐福赦罪，消灾解厄。是日宜诚心礼拜，朝拜三清道祖，玉皇上帝，三官大帝等高真，进香燃灯，忏悔祈福，斋戒许愿。
在民间，自古以来端午节便有划龙舟及食粽等节日活动。此外，端午期间天气炎热，古时常有瘟疫发生，因此人们也在门前挂菖蒲，制作艾草香包，贴天师符，戴五色线，挂钟馗像驱邪等习俗。端午节今年落在19/06/26。端午节旨在驱邪祛病，忏悔祭祖，因此不应该用“快乐” ，因为这不是喜事，用“吉祥”，“安康” 会比较恰当。
“Duan Wu” Double Fifth Festival (5th day of the 5th lunar month) 19-06-26
Duan Wu Festival (loosely translated as "Dragon Boat Festival") , also known as the “Double Fifth Festival” originated from the dragon spirit worship in ancient China.
Support is drawn from two key traditions of the festival: the tradition of dragon boat racing and zongzi (dumplings). The food may have originally represented an offering to the dragon king, while dragon boat racing naturally reflects reverence for the dragon and the active yang energy associated with it. The festival first emerged in the southern part of China, to the south of the Yangtze River.
Offerings were regularly made to deities and spirits at such times: in the ancient Yue tribe, living in the southern China.
Historical research suggests that the stories of Qu Yuan or Wu Zixu were introduced onto a pre-existing holiday tradition. The promotion of these stories might be encouraged by then scholars, to promote loyalty and patriotism. Throughout the years, the ancient Duan Wu Festival has many tales revolving it. Such as the story of Qu Yuan, Wu Zixu, Cao Er etc.
The word "Duan" 端means the beginning. "Wu" 午 , one of the 12 earthly branches refers to the 5th month. It may also means the number 5. Therefore, the 5th day of the 5th month marks the actual day of Duan Wu Festival.
The 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches 天干地支 are used in the calendar system. 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches to make combinations representing a sexagenary cycle. A year/month can be represented by the composition of two characters, one from the heavenly set, and one from the other.
The Festival was originally a day for ancient people to ward off evil, prevent disease, and drive away toxins. As the weather turned hot, the fifth lunar month was regarded as an “inauspicious month,” and the fifth day of that month as an “inauspicious day.” It was believed to be a time when plagues and poisonous creatures were most active. Therefore, this festival was established to protect people’s health and bring safety and peace.
Duan Wu festival is also 1 of the five Taoist worship day (Wu La 五腊日) . Also known as "Di La" 地腊 in Taoism. It is a special day when the divinities gathered in heaven and inspect the actions and deeds committed by all mortals, ancestors and descendants. It is a day to seek forgiveness, blessings from the Three Pristine Ones, the Heavenly Jade Emperor and the Three Divine Official and carry out ancestor worship.
Some of the more common activities carried out during the Duan Wu Festival are eating (and preparing) zongzi (dumplings), drinking realgar wine, racing dragon boats, displaying images of Zhong Kui (Taoist guardian figure) and Tian Shi (Celestial Master) talisman, hanging of mugwort and calamus leaves and wearing 5 colored strings and perfumed medicine bags.
The objectives of Duan Wu Festival are to eliminate illness, ward off evil, confession and ancestor worship. Therefore it is more appropriate to use words associating with “peace” or “blessings” instead of “happy” in greetings.
Together with Spring Festival, Qing Ming Festival, Zhong Yuan (7th Month) Festival, Qi Qiao Festival, Mid Autumn Festival, Chong Yang (Double Nine) Festival and Winter Solstice, they are the 8 major traditional Chinese festivals in Chinese culture.
