据《史记》“屈原贾生列传”记载，屈原，是春秋时期楚怀王的大臣。他倡导举贤授能，富国强兵，力主联齐抗秦，遭到贵族子兰等人的强烈反对，屈原遭馋去职，被赶出都城，流放到沅、湘流域。他在流放中，写下了忧国忧民的《离骚》、《天问》、《九歌》等不朽诗篇，独具风貌，影响深远(因而，端午节也称诗人节)。公元前278年，秦军攻破楚国京都。屈原眼看自己的祖国被侵略，心如刀割，但是始终不忍舍弃自己的祖国，于五月五日，在写下了绝笔作《怀沙》之后，抱石投汨罗江身死，以自己的生命谱写了一曲壮丽的爱国主义乐章。

传说屈原死后，楚国百姓哀痛异常，纷纷涌到汨罗江边去凭吊屈原。渔夫们划起船只，在江上来回打捞他的真身。有位渔夫拿出为屈原准备的饭团、鸡蛋等食物，“扑通、扑通”地丢进江里，说是让鱼龙虾蟹吃饱了，就不会去咬屈大夫的身体了。人们见后纷纷仿效。一位老医师则拿来一坛雄黄酒倒进江里，说是要药晕蛟龙水兽，以免伤害屈大夫。后来为怕饭团为蛟龙所食，人们想出用楝树叶包饭，外缠彩丝，发展成棕子。

There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and one of China's earliest poets. In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin. However, he was opposed by aristocrats headed by Zi Lan, and later deposed and exiled by King Huai. In his exiled days, he still cared much for his country and people and composed immortal poems including Li Sao (The Lament), Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions) and Jiu Ge (Nine Songs), which had far-reaching influences. In 278 BC, he heard the news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu's capital, so he finished his last piece Huai Sha (Embracing Sand) and plunged himself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a large stone. The day happened to be the 5th of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

After his death, the people of Chu crowded to the bank of the river to pay their respects to him. The fishermen sailed their boats up and down the river to look for his body. People threw into the water zongzi (pyramid-shaped glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves) and eggs to divert possible fish or shrimp from attacking his body. An old doctor poured a jug of reaglar wine (Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar) into the water, hoping to turn all aquatic beasts drunk. That's why people later followed the customs such as dragon boat racing, eating zongzi and drinking realgar wine on that day.

 

第二篇：屈原投江

屈原投江

古时候有一个叫做屈原的人，在楚王手下做大夫。后来因为很多人陷害屈原，楚王越来越不信任屈原，只信奸臣，就把屈原给免去了大夫一职。

屈原很伤心，认为楚国很快就会腐败了。就来到了水泽边，日日夜夜在那里走来走去。不久，他脸色憔悴，身体干瘦。这时，一只小鸟飞过来，唧唧喳喳地问屈原：“你不是在皇帝手下当大夫呢？怎么跑到这里来了，那些大臣和皇上都昏庸，这一个国家都靠你啊！”“是啊，”屈原叹了口气，继续说：“就是因为他们大家都昏庸，我一人反抗力不足，国家就要腐败了呀！就是他们那些昏庸的人多、心齐，皇上是不会信我的。”小鸟很感动，说：“那你为什么不去其他国家呢？”“唉，我这一下子跑了，楚国怎么办，毕竟我是楚国人，当然会为着楚国着想啊！唉，腐败的君王，奸臣，楚国就要毁在他们的手里了。”说完，屈原便抱着一块大石头跳进江水里自尽了。小鸟连忙飞到村子中告诉大家。 渔民和附近的庄稼人知道了这个消息，赶紧划着小船去救屈原。不一会儿工夫，好些小船争先恐后地来了。可是水如碧玉，哪儿有屈原的影儿呐？他们在汨罗江上捞了半天，到了儿也没把屈原找着。

渔民很悲伤，他们对着江面上祭祀了一会儿，把竹筒子里的米饭撒在水里。为什么呢？因为怕江里的鱼儿们吃掉屈原的尸体，就给他们吃了米饭。由于鱼儿每一次都可以吃到美味的食物，所以汨罗江的鱼儿长得又肥又壮、鱼肉鲜美。 到了第二年五月初五那一天，老百姓们都会想起这是屈原投江的日子了，又划着船，用竹筒子盛上米饭撒到水里去祭祀他。到后来，人们把盛着米饭的竹筒子改成粽子，划小船改为赛龙船，把五月初五称为端午节，也叫端阳节。