Today, Hong Kong celebrates its annual public holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival (???, du?nw? jié), a significant traditional Chinese holiday observed on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

Essentially, the whole meaning behind the Dragon Boat Festival is to save the soul of a man called Qu Yuan (mentioned below) after he tragically chose to end his life by jumping into a river.

Qu Yuan and “The Cloud Spirit” (???·????, “Ji? G? · Yún Zh?ng J?n”)

Qu Yuan was a minister in the Kingdom of Chu during the Warring States period. Renowned for his integrity and loyalty, he faced political exile due to court intrigue. In despair, he composed poignant poetry expressing his love for his country and his anguish over its fate. “The Cloud Spirit” is one such poem from his collection “Nine Songs” (????, Ji? G?), where he channels his feelings through mythological and spiritual themes.

Original Text and Translation

Original Text (with Pinyin)
??·???
Ji? G? · Yún Zh?ng J?n

???????
Yù lán t?ng x? mù f?ng,
???????
Huá c?i y? x? ruò y?ng.
???????
Líng lián quán x? jì liú,
???????
Làn zh?o zh?o x? wèi y?ng.
???????
Ji?n ji?ng dàn x? shòu g?ng,
???????
Y? rì yuè x? qí gu?ng.
??????
Lóng jià x? dì fú,
???????
Liáo áo yóu x? zh?u zh?ng.
???????
Líng huáng huáng x? jì jiàng,
???????
Bi?o yu?n j? x? yún zh?ng.
???????
L?n jì zh?u x? y?u yú,
???????
Héng sì h?i x? y?n qióng.
???????
S? f? j?n x? tài x?,
???????
Jí láo x?n x? ch?ng ch?ng.

Modern Chinese Language Version (with Pinyin)

???????????
Mù yù zhe f?ng xi?ng sì sàn de lán t?ng,
???????????
Chu?n shàng nà xi?n yàn huá lì de y? shang.
???????????
Shén líng a huí huán jiàng lín w? sh?n shang,
???????????
Sh?n yào wú qióng jìn de càn làn gu?ng máng.
???????????
C?n ji? jì sì n? ji?ng jiàng lín shén táng,
???????????
Cu? càn de gu?ng hu? y? rì yuè zh?ng gu?ng.
???????????
Chéng jià lóng ch? chu?n zhe ti?n dì fú zhu?ng,
???????????
N? zài ti?n shàng áo xiáng zh?u yóu sì f?ng.
???????????
Shén líng a gu?ng càn càn y? j?ng jiàng lín,
???????????
H? rán yòu yu?n yu?n de du? jìn yún zh?ng.
???????????
N? de gu?ng máng biàn jí ji? zh?u y?u yú,
???????????
N? de z?ng jì zòng héng sì h?i wú qióng.
???????????
S? niàn n? a lìng rén sh?ng sh?ng tàn x?,
???????????
Pàn wàng n? a sh? rén y?u x?n ch?ng ch?ng!

I am yet to come across an acceptable English translation of the above, so I have merely provided some guidance below on the meaning of the poem.

Meaning and Cultural Context

The poem describes a ritualistic scene where the poet, representing a shaman or priest, bathes in fragrant orchid water and dons splendid clothing to welcome the descending spirit. This spirit, described with awe-inspiring imagery, travels through the heavens in a dragon chariot, symbolizing divine power and majesty. The poet expresses a deep emotional connection and longing for the spirit, mirroring Qu Yuan’s own patriotic sorrow and spiritual quest.