용선경주(賽龍舟)의 변용과 기대

Abstract

Dragon Boat Race had its beginning in Hongkong(Xianggang) as the international boat race game in 1976. The Hongkong government promoted Duan Wu as international sport to energize the promotion of its city and its tourism. In 1979, the introduction of Dragon Boat Race in Guangzhou became a starting point for the restoration of tradition and revitalization of Duan Wu. In addition to the tragic death of Quyuan, a poet from the Chu Dynasty, the race gained recognition with a mythical aspect. Strong desire to retore the cultural heritage after the devastation brought upon by the Cultural Revolution of 1965 manifested itself in the movements of the era. The government put a focus on creating a new concept, the merge of ‘Duan Wu culture and sports.’ and a popular song called ‘Descendants of a Dragon’ composed by Taiwanese songwriter in 1979, stole the hearts of the people of China by delivering with the message that one must charge forward into the future with bravery. Thanks to the efforts of cultural elites, Dragon boat race was selected as an official sport in Asian Games in 2010 and using the momentum, it was registered as the national cultural heritage in 2011. The craftsmen who built the dragon boats were named as the heirs for national cultural heritage, making it possible for them to train their successors with ease. It was recognized as a major course for large scale events in Chinese societies overseas and experienced rebirth as a part of the traditional festivals. Boat races which had a humble beginning with fishermen, transcended into a widely popular sports for the mass and essential part of summer festivals more than just honoring the death . This paper is designed to review the transformation of the Dragon Boat Race, led by the government and explore its potential and possibilities as cultural heritage. The Dragon Boat race has a potential to spread in real life, not in cyber space and carries nostalgia for many generations. Such potentials and its practical values as cultural heritage would be pending issues for future generations. Dragon Boat Race showed a ground-breaking record, signaling the success of the local culture and giving a green light for becoming popular on a national scale. As a result, the Dragon Boat Race grew into a real sport as tóngzhōugòngjì, and not just mere plays, contributing to its popularity with its various usages, the participation which transcended different regions and generations, and the use of resources. Local communities should voluntarily pursue cultural diversity and develop the power and the will to restore the lost culture beyond the safe settings and limitations created by cultural elitism. Traditional culture should be able to satisfy the psychological needs of those who want a sense of belonging and stability by putting community bonds first. When the local communities freely consume Dragon boat race and pursue diversity as a medium of communication and exchange, they will be able to share its values as a competitive heritage in the future.