Taiwanese Association of Madison “Dragon Boat Festival”
In memory of a poet and patriot
In memory of a poet and patriot
David Lu, a member of the association, recalled the traditional Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan which is
always huge and fun for all. “We would decorate boats as ‘dragons’ and then we’ll have boat racing and lots of
food dropped into the river!”
Ying-Chern Gu, the association’s vice--president and organizer of the event, echoed Lee’s brief recollection
about the legend of Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan, and explained what Taiwanese Association of Madison is
all about. “This is a caring organization,” Gu said. “We care for the people from Taiwan who come here,
especially newcomers and students. We provide housing support initially, answer questions that they may have,
and we try to extend any kind of help. We also give a little bit of financial support for student organization
activities. Sometimes, we care for the events in Taiwan that we express some concerns. Although we don’t
officially do advocacy, we care for happenings in Taiwan.”
Gu said that that his organization is also a resource pool, extending help and support to those in the
Taiwanese community who are encountering difficulty in their new homeland. And celebrating a Chinese
festival together, he added, makes it a bit easier to feel “at home.”
always huge and fun for all. “We would decorate boats as ‘dragons’ and then we’ll have boat racing and lots of
food dropped into the river!”
Ying-Chern Gu, the association’s vice--president and organizer of the event, echoed Lee’s brief recollection
about the legend of Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan, and explained what Taiwanese Association of Madison is
all about. “This is a caring organization,” Gu said. “We care for the people from Taiwan who come here,
especially newcomers and students. We provide housing support initially, answer questions that they may have,
and we try to extend any kind of help. We also give a little bit of financial support for student organization
activities. Sometimes, we care for the events in Taiwan that we express some concerns. Although we don’t
officially do advocacy, we care for happenings in Taiwan.”
Gu said that that his organization is also a resource pool, extending help and support to those in the
Taiwanese community who are encountering difficulty in their new homeland. And celebrating a Chinese
festival together, he added, makes it a bit easier to feel “at home.”
by Heidi M. Pascual
On June 7, I witnessed a gathering of the Taiwanese Association of Madison (TAM)
at Garner Park not only to get-together, eat traditional Chinese food and have fun, but
also to remember and celebrate the life and patriotism of Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.).
The event was supposed to be celebrated in the waters (river or lake), with boats
decorated as dragons for a boat race and lots of rice dumplings thrown to the river for
fish to eat. However, the members of the Taiwanese Association of Madison will just
get together until they are ready to conduct this huge festival in one of Madison’s lakes.
Qu Yuan
Jenny Lee, president of Madison Chinese Cultural Association and TAM member,
gave me a lesson on the poet and patriot whose life the Chinese celebrate every year
on May 5 of the Lunar Year. “We celebrate the poet, his name is Qu Yuan, who was
very patriotic,” Lee began. “During that time, there were wars between powers and he
always talked to the King, saying, ‘We got to change this,’ because things were bad in
government.” Lee was referring to King Huai, head of Chu, who was then recognized as
one of the strongest powers. Qu Yuan was in the service of the King as an advisor, and
he was able to convince the king of reforming the legal system and employing men of
talent. Because of his successes, an envious high-ranking official slandered him,
alleging that he was getting all the credits away from the King. Qu Yuan was demoted
and sent away. The mistakes of the King not heeding Qu Yuan’s advice led to the
downfall of the kingdom of Chu.
Qu Yuan wrote his poem Li Sao (which means ‘encountering sorrow’) while he was
in exile. It was an expression of sorrow and his loyalty to the King; as well as a poet’s
idealism and sense of righteousness.
On June 7, I witnessed a gathering of the Taiwanese Association of Madison (TAM)
at Garner Park not only to get-together, eat traditional Chinese food and have fun, but
also to remember and celebrate the life and patriotism of Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.).
The event was supposed to be celebrated in the waters (river or lake), with boats
decorated as dragons for a boat race and lots of rice dumplings thrown to the river for
fish to eat. However, the members of the Taiwanese Association of Madison will just
get together until they are ready to conduct this huge festival in one of Madison’s lakes.
Qu Yuan
Jenny Lee, president of Madison Chinese Cultural Association and TAM member,
gave me a lesson on the poet and patriot whose life the Chinese celebrate every year
on May 5 of the Lunar Year. “We celebrate the poet, his name is Qu Yuan, who was
very patriotic,” Lee began. “During that time, there were wars between powers and he
always talked to the King, saying, ‘We got to change this,’ because things were bad in
government.” Lee was referring to King Huai, head of Chu, who was then recognized as
one of the strongest powers. Qu Yuan was in the service of the King as an advisor, and
he was able to convince the king of reforming the legal system and employing men of
talent. Because of his successes, an envious high-ranking official slandered him,
alleging that he was getting all the credits away from the King. Qu Yuan was demoted
and sent away. The mistakes of the King not heeding Qu Yuan’s advice led to the
downfall of the kingdom of Chu.
Qu Yuan wrote his poem Li Sao (which means ‘encountering sorrow’) while he was
in exile. It was an expression of sorrow and his loyalty to the King; as well as a poet’s
idealism and sense of righteousness.
| (From top) Jenny Lee, president of Madison Chinese Cultural Association and TAM member; Ying-Chern Gu, the association’s vice--president and organizer of the event |
“Qu Yuan jumped into the Milo River,” Lee said, when the poet
could no longer take the downfall of Chu soon after King Huai died
in prison under the Qin regime. According to legend, Lee said,
when the people of Chu learned that Qu yuan drowned himself, they
threw sweet rice dumplings into the river and raced ‘dragon’ boats so
that the fishes would eat the dumplings instead of his body.
could no longer take the downfall of Chu soon after King Huai died
in prison under the Qin regime. According to legend, Lee said,
when the people of Chu learned that Qu yuan drowned himself, they
threw sweet rice dumplings into the river and raced ‘dragon’ boats so
that the fishes would eat the dumplings instead of his body.
(From top left) TAM member and fine artist PaiYin; a member
receives a "thank you" gift; TM members and families enjoy a
sumptuous Chinese meal.
receives a "thank you" gift; TM members and families enjoy a
sumptuous Chinese meal.