Over 2,000 years ago, China was divided into seven warring kingdoms.
两千多年以前，中国大地上有七个国家，征战不息。
This was a time of great violence and unrest, which is why it was called the Warring States Period in history.
这段时期狼烟四起，杀戮频仍，因此在历史上被称作“战国”。
The Kingdom of Qin in the north-west was the strongest of them all.
西北部的秦国是那时最强大的国家。
It was ruled by an ambitious king later called Qin Shi Huang, who was determined to rule over all seven kingdoms because he had the largest army and wanted to create an empire.
秦国的皇帝后来被称为“秦始皇”，他有着最强大的兵力，决心扫平七国，建立大一统的帝国。
In this time there lived an official and poet called Qu Yuan in the Kingdom of Chu in the south of China.
在同一时期，南方有个叫做楚国的国家。楚国有个叫屈原的官员，他也是一位诗人。
Qu Yuan served in high offices, and dedicated his life to assisting the king to build the State of Chu stronger.
屈原身居高位，一生兢兢业业，辅佐楚王建立国家的基业。
He advised the King to ally with the State of Qi to fight against the powerful Qin.
他上奏楚王联合齐国，以对抗强大的秦。
However, he was slandered by some jealous officials and accused of treason, and the King dismissed and exiled him.
然而，他被朝中一些妒火中烧的官员陷害，被指背叛楚国；而后，楚王将他贬谪流放。
During his exile, Qu Yuan became a true poet, writing many beautiful poems about his home country, including one called ‘Li Sao’ – also known as The Lament.
在流放期间，屈原成长为一名杰出的诗人，创作了大量动人的爱国诗歌——其中有一首叫做《离骚》。
When Qu Yuan discovered that Qin had invaded his country, he became so sad that he walked into the Miluo River where he drowned.
当屈原得知自己的国家已被秦国攻占，诗人心灰意冷，遂在汨罗河投江自尽。
The people of Chu had a great respect for Qu Yuan, and when they heard his death, they rushed to the riverbank and took to their boats.
楚人十分尊敬屈原。得知了他的死讯后，人们纷纷冲到河边，将船推进河里。
They banged drums and hit the water to scare off the evil spirits.
人们敲鼓、击水，以吓退河里的恶鬼。
And they poured realgar wine into the river to poison the monsters.
他们还将雄黄酒倒进河中，想要毒死水中的恶魔。
And they threw lumps of rice into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat the body of the great poet.
他们将一团团大米扔进河里，希望能喂饱鱼儿，以免伤害大诗人的遗体。
Over thousands of years, Qu Yuan has never been forgotten and Chinese people have followed similar practices to commemorate him.
几千年来，中国人从未忘记屈原，人们总是以相似的方式纪念他。
Gradually, rowing boats developed into dragon boat racing, whereas the lumps of rice became sticky rice dumplings called Zongzi in Chinese.
划船逐渐演变成为龙舟比赛，而大米团则变成了糯米做的粽子。
The festival is called Duanwu, or Dragon Boat Festival. It falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.
每逢阴历五月初五，人们都会庆祝“端午节”，也叫“龙舟节”。
On this day, Chinese people all over the world eat rice dumplings, drink realgar wine, and race dragon boats among some other things to celebrate.
在这一天，全世界的华人会用吃粽子、饮雄黄、赛龙舟等等方式庆祝端午。
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