Once upon a time, there were ten suns in the sky, scorching many crops and people to death. Nothing could stop their separation, but because of their love for each other, Chang’e landed on the celestial body closest to Earth — the Moon. At the center of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the ancient story of Chang’e (嫦娥), the goddess of the moon, and her husband, the divine archer Hou Yi (后羿). Read some of the most widespread stories about the Mid-Autumn Festival below. Moved by the rabbit’s pure heart, the immortals granted the rabbit everlasting life in the Lunar Palace. Every holiday or festival has its story or background. The best Mid-Autumn Festival information on tradition, celebrations,Moon cake, food to eat and things to do during the festival… Single people paid homage to “the old man in the moon”, whom they believed was a … The full moon on this day is a symbol of completion, especially that following a long period of separation. The “Lady Chang’e Flying to the moon”, “Jade Rabbit Mashing Herbs” and “Wu Gang Cutting Sweet Osmanthus” stories are among the many legends which are popular as folk tales. But according to one fairy tale, she received a companion, the Jade Rabbit. Chang'e, known as the moon Goddess, was a mortal … The Chinese thus came to pray to Chang’e for peace and luck. For three thousand years, many legends about the Mid-Autumn Festival have been told from generation to generation among folks and some customs of the Festival vary from region to region in China. Visit our, After the Lunar New Year, the second-most important Chinese holiday is the, The full moon on this day is a symbol of completion, especially that following a long period of separation. For three thousand years, many legends about the Mid-Autumn Festival have been told from generation to generation among folks and some customs of the Festival vary from region to region in China. There is a beautiful myth about the Mid-Autumn festival, that is Chang 'e flying to the moon. Three days later, while Hou Yi was out on a hunt, Feng Meng broke into their home and demanded that Chang’e hand over the elixir. The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Mooncake Festival, is the second-most-important festival in China, after the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). At the center of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the ancient story of, Copyright Policy and Infringement Notification, Pentagon Report Warns China Is Boosting Nuclear Capabilities, Laos Launches TV Station Supported by China, Beijing Asks Farmers to Grow Grains as Country Faces Food Shortage, Why Ancient Qigong Is Powerful, Yet Peaceful, Alternative Energy Sources in Residential Areas: A Game Changer, Importance of Establishing Diplomatic Relations Between the United States and Taiwan. It is said that during the reign of Emperor Yao, 10 suns appeared in the sky, drying the Earth with their scorching heat. Yao prayed to the gods for deliverance, and the Jade Emperor of Heaven answered his pleas, sending the master archer Hou Yi and his wife to the mortal realm. Hou Yi’s reward was a magic potion from the Western … Vision Times – Bringing you Truth, Inspiration, Hope. There is an abundance of magical legends about the Mid-Autumn Festival. (Image: Secret China). Chang'e. The legend about Chang'e is one of the most popular stories in China, which explains the origin of moon worshiping during the festival. Filled with pity, he took out his weapon and began to shoot the offending stars one by one until Emperor Yao stopped him, leaving one sun to warm the Earth. The difference for this is that the Chinese follow the lunar calendar, which presents a very different measure of time passing.
These festivals tend to occur on the same day or around the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, there are four popular tales that have withstood the test of time and become the most well-known legends … After the Lunar New Year, the second-most important Chinese holiday is the zhongqiujie (中秋節), or Mid-Autumn Festival. Chang'e, the Chinese Goddess of the Moon.

Hou Yi saw the scenes of devastation that the heavenly calamity had wrought upon the earth and its inhabitants. The Mid-Autumn Festival was once considered the second Valentine’s Day in China. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Chinese Festivals, Chinese culture, Chinese Vocabulary This article is part of a series about traditional Chinese festivals. Fortune in Life Is Uncertain, but Punishment in the Afterlife Is Assured, China’s Satellite Launch Ends Up Risking the Lives of Citizens, Beijing Launches New Campaign Against Falun Gong, The Unbreakable Rules of Cast Iron Care (Infographic), 7 Benefits of Red Dates as a Food, Tonic, and in Herbal Mixtures. The most famous one is the ‘Chang E Flying to the Moon'. Could Life on Mars Exist Deep Underground? There are many magical legends explaining the origin of the festival. The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up next week. A long time ago, there were ten suns hanging in the sky. The tale tells of three immortals who transformed themselves into beggars and asked for help from three animals — a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit, The wily fox and the capable monkey both found food to give the beggars, but the rabbit had nothing to give, so it offered its own meat for the immortal to eat. Hou Yi was a hero, but he and Chang’e were stranded in the secular world and hoped to return to the heavens, so the archer made an arduous journey west to Mount Kunlun, the residence of the Lady Queen Mother. Legends. Vision Times tells the world everything about China in today’s context. These fictional stories denote the ancestors’ instinctive desire to struggle for life in nature. At the Chang'e and Hou Yi — Love Story of a Beautiful Lady and a Hero It is said that when looking closely, the Jade Rabbit can be seen pounding medicine in a mortar. There are up to six versions of the legends behind the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our weekly email. Knowing that Peng would overpower her, she quickly drank the potion rather than betray her husband. It is a festival for a reunion under the full moon that often appears on the 15thday of the eighth lunar month, which is the day of Mid-Autumn in the traditional Chinese calendar. The Emperor of Heaven summoned Hou Yi to shoot down nine of the suns. After the Lunar New Year, the second-most important Chinese holiday is the zhongqiujie (中秋節), or Mid-Autumn Festival. There is an abundance of magical legends about the Mid-Autumn Festival. Suddenly, Li Longji raised the thoughts of visiting the Moon Palace, so the three men flew up to the moon by clouds and planned to roam in the Moon Palace. As Chang’e had become the Goddess of the Moon, others followed Hou Yi. Chang'e. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. The legend goes like this: This tale tells of how, long ago, the Earth had 10 suns, the heat of … It is a festival for a reunion under the full moon that often appears on the 15thday of the eighth lunar month, which is the day of Mid-Autumn in the traditional Chinese calendar. 2020 Mid-Autumn Festival will fall on October 1st (National Day). The “Lady Chang’e Flying to the moon”, “Jade Rabbit Mashing Herbs” and “Wu Gang Cutting Sweet Osmanthus” stories are among the many legends which are popular as folk tales. Hou Yi succeeded, the weather soon recovered and life was saved. 1. Hou Yi, an expert archer, used his bow and arrow to shoot down nine of the suns, leaving only one and saving the world. This website uses cookies. We keep a close eye on China because of its influence now and the lessons we can learn from its ancient past to better our lives today. According to Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival legend, Li Longji, an Emperor of Tang Dynasty (618-907AD), a Taoist master and a Taoist priest were appreciating the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival.