As a traditional festival, Dragon Boat Festival has many legendary stories about its origin. Cao E’s story is one which spreads in the south of Yangtze River.

It is said Cao E, once lived at Shangyu in the East Han dynasty (23 A.D.-220A.D.). One day, his father drowned by accident. At that time, Cao E was only 14 years old and she cried for her father along the river day in and day out.

17 days later, that is May 5th of the lunar calendar Cao E threw herself into the river, too. And after 5 days, people found that there was something floating in the river, so they pulled it to the bank. To their surprise it was Cao E’s body and she was holding her father’s body tight. People believed that Cao E is so filial that she moved the god.

Before long, the leader of Shangyu heard about the story and he ordered Du Shang set up a monument and asked Han Danchun to write a composition to mourn Cao E.

A temple named after Cao E was built in memory of her at that place and the village she was born was named Cao E Village and the river was called Cao E River. The day she drowned gradually become a festival.