Chang’e is a significant figure celebrated during the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, where she is venerated as the Moon Goddess.
But how did she ascend to the Moon? The intertwined tales of Chang’e, her husband Hou Yi, and the Mid-Autumn Festival are rich in variations. Here are two of the most well-known narratives.
Chang’e and Hou Yi the Archer (Version 1)
According to the first rendition, Chang’e was a stunning and benevolent woman, married to Hou Yi, a skilled archer renowned for his prowess.
In ancient times, it is said that there were ten suns, and the extreme heat from these suns overwhelmed the Earth. In a bid to save the planet, the formidable archer Hou Yi managed to shoot down nine of these celestial bodies, leaving only one to illuminate the sky.
As a result of his heroic acts, Hou Yi earned the admiration of the people and was granted an elixir of immortality by the Queen Mother of the West, acknowledging his bravery in rescuing the Earth and its inhabitants.
However, this potion was meant for a single individual. Honoring his love for Chang’e, Hou Yi chose not to consume it immediately, storing it with his beloved instead.
Tragically, one day, a scheming student of Hou Yi named Pang Meng attempted to abscond with the elixir in Hou Yi’s absence. To safeguard the potion, Chang’e made the fateful decision to drink it. Upon doing so, she ascended to the Moon and took on the mantle of the Moon Goddess, forever separating her from her husband.
Heartbroken after learning about Chang’e’s fate, Hou Yi directed his cries to the heavens. Astonishingly, the moon shone brighter than ever that night, where he glimpsed a silhouette resembling Chang’e. To express his longing, he lay out the fruits and cakes that Chang’e cherished.
Touched by their profound love, the Moon Mother permitted Chang’e to reconnect with Hou Yi once a year during the full moon on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.
Since then, every year on this date, which has come to symbolize the Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather to celebrate and anticipate reunions (as well as their own family gatherings). The customs of moon worship and enjoying mooncakes have therefore become enduring traditions of this festive occasion.
Chang’e and Hou Yi the Archer (Version 2)
Another well-known version portrays Chang’e and Hou Yi as divine beings residing in the heavens.
One fateful day, the ten children of the Jade Emperor took the form of ten suns, scorching the Earth below.
In desperation, the Jade Emperor summoned Hou Yi to intervene and mitigate the disaster caused by his sons. Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns, leaving the last one in the sky. However, the Jade Emperor’s sorrow and anger over the loss of his sons led to a severe punishment for Hou Yi and Chang’e: they were condemned to live as mortals on Earth.
Faced with his wife’s torment over their new mortal existence, Hou Yi embarked on a journey to visit the Queen Mother of the West in hope of obtaining an elixir that could restore their divine status. She cautioned him that in order for them both to achieve immortality, they needed to share the elixir.
Once home, Hou Yi placed the elixir in a secure box, cautioning Chang’e to keep it closed until his return. However, her yearning for their life in heaven became unbearable, leading her to consume the entire elixir in his absence. The consequence of her action sent Chang’e floating away, ending her journey on the Moon rather than the clouds of heaven.
For more fascinating tales surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival, including the legend of the Jade Rabbit, there is much to discover.
