How Are Dragon Boats Made?
Three generations ride the waves on dragon boats
龙舟竞渡，技艺流芳：关氏祖孙三代的手工龙舟
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MENG QINGCHUN (孟庆春)
TEXT BY SUN JIAHUI (孙佳慧)
In Sanshui (三水), a district of Foshan city in Guangdong province, there lives a family with the surname Guan. The patriarch, Guan Qunsu, 65, is a second-generation boat craftsman; his father, Guan Dui, used to work at the local shipyard, but started his own factory after he retired. Guan Qunsu joined his father, and not long after, Guan Qunsu’s twin sons joined the family business, and they decided to name it “Guan Yongqiang Factory” after his youngest son. Together, the three generations have been running the family boat factory for more than 15 years.
Dragon boat racing is relatively popular in this area of China, so the demand for large boats is growing. Still, it’s hard work, and the profits are slim. Small dragon boats can hold about five people, but the large racing boats can hold 40 to 80 rowers. The larger the boat is, the more complicated the manufacturing process can be. The largest dragon boat the Guan family ever made was 46.9 meters long and seated 90 rowers. The Guan family business is a big name in local dragon boat circles, known for their careful workmanship.
With the convenient waterways in Guangdong province, boats used to be a major form of transportation. The launching of a dragon boat involved tremendous care; there would be a worship ceremony with prayers at ancestral temples. The modern customs are somewhat simpler—usually involving sacrifices (usually a chicken or pig), incense burning, and sometimes the sacrifice of a rooster whose blood is then sprinkled from bow to stern in an earnest prayer for safety.
Today, most people think of dragon boat races only in conjunction with the Dragon Boat Festival, but in Southern China, the races are held on many occasions, such as Labor Day and National Day—often between different villages in a spirit of neighborly competition.
Dragon boat culture is indelibly etched on this region: a cultural staple, a pastime, and an art form. As Guan Qunsu puts it, “As long as I still have strength, I will carry on making dragon boats.”
Carving is the first step in making the distinctive dragon figurehead
Detail is carefully added to the final carved figurehead
The new dragon boat owners carry their purchase to the riverside
An elder from the village hosts the worship ceremony, lighting incense and offering sacrifices to pray for safety and peace
The ritual painting of the dragon eyes takes place on the third day of the fifth lunar month, two days before the Dragon Boat Festival
The boat is elaborately decorated with flags and banners
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