The first details an elegant levitation towards the moon, where Chang’e spent her everlasting life. The other portrays a less-than-ideal image of Chang’e: consumed by the desire to grasp immortality, she stole the elixir from her husband.Įither way, Chang’e wound up on the moon after drinking the elixir.
One contends that Chang’e drank the elixir to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Renouncing eternal life, Hou Yi decided not to drink the potion and left the bottle untouched.įrom there, two widely shared tales recount different versions of events. The bottle contained just enough for one person.īut the archer was deeply in love with his wife, Chang’e, and could not contemplate parting with her just to become immortal. In appreciation for his feat, the Queen Mother of the West offered Hou Yi the most coveted potion of all: the Elixir of Immortality. As often occurs with China’s cultural traditions, popular lore underpins the festival’s origins: the legend of a remarkable archer, Hou Yi, and his wife Chang’e have laid the foundation for the customs we follow to this day.Īs the legend goes, Hou Yi saved life on earth by shooting down nine of 10 blistering suns causing severe droughts and wilting crops. The legend of Hou Yi and the Moon Goddess Chang’e Photo courtesy of Old Seng ChoongĪccording to scholars, the Mid-Autumn Festival may have emerged as early as the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), over 2,000 years ago. While families today mark the occasion by indulging in sumptuous meals and exchanging luxurious mooncakes from upscale brands, the tradition has much more mythical roots in farming villages thousands of years ago. Over time, however, the way people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival has changed significantly. Also known as Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, the tradition is deeply intertwined with – you guessed it – the moon.Įvery year, on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar when, according to conventional wisdom, the moon is at its largest and most luminous, millions of people gather to celebrate by eating mooncakes, gazing at the moon, lighting lanterns and praying for a fruitful future. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important annual holidays in Chinese culture.
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