The Moon Goddess Chang’e – A legend about a woman who lives on the moon after drinking an immortality potion.
时间: 2024-09-20 06:58:49
(Some of the content comes from the Internet, and its authenticity is questionable, so please be cautious in order to avoid misleading you.)
In Chinese mythology, one of the most beloved and enduring legends is that of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. This enchanting tale has been passed down through generations, captivating the hearts and minds of countless people. The legend of Chang’e is a story of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of immortality.
The legend of Chang’e begins with a beautiful and kind-hearted woman named Chang’e, who lived during the time of the ancient Chinese emperors. Chang’e was married to a skilled archer named Hou Yi, who was known for his bravery and his incredible marksmanship. Together, they lived a happy and peaceful life in a small village at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains.
One day, the earth was plagued by ten suns that blazed fiercely in the sky, scorching the earth and causing great suffering to the people. In response to this crisis, the Emperor of Heaven called upon Hou Yi to shoot down nine of the suns with his bow and arrow, leaving only one to provide light and warmth to the world.
Hou Yi successfully completed this heroic task, saving the earth from destruction and earning the admiration and gratitude of the people. However, his actions also attracted the attention of the Queen Mother of the West, who ruled over the realm of immortals. To reward him for his bravery, she presented him with a vial of elixir that would grant him immortality.
Hou Yi, grateful for the gift, decided to share the elixir with Chang’e. However, he warned her that they must only drink half of the potion, as consuming the entire vial would bring about disastrous consequences. Chang’e agreed, and together they drank half of the elixir, hoping to live out their days together in eternal happiness.
But fate had other plans. While Hou Yi was out hunting one day, a treacherous man named Feng Meng broke into their home, intent on stealing the elixir for himself. Chang’e knew that she could not let him have the potion, so in a desperate move to protect it, she swallowed the remaining elixir in one gulp.
As soon as she drank the potion, Chang’e felt her body becoming lighter and lighter, until she began to float off the ground. She floated out of the window and up into the sky, higher and higher, until she reached the moon. There, she found herself transformed into the beautiful Moon Goddess, forever separated from her beloved husband.
Heartbroken and alone, Chang’e took up residence in the Palace of the Moon, where she spent her days gazing down at the earth below, longing for her lost love. To console herself, she surrounded herself with the companionship of a jade rabbit and a woodcutter who lived in the moon.
Legend has it that on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, the day when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, Hou Yi would offer up his favorite foods and fruits to Chang’e, hoping that his offerings would reach her in the heavens. People on earth also began to offer sacrifices to Chang’e, praying for good fortune and happiness.
And so, the legend of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess, was born. Her story has been told and retold for centuries, inspiring countless poems, songs, and works of art. Chang’e is revered as a symbol of beauty, grace, and eternal love, a reminder of the power of sacrifice and the enduring nature of true love.
To this day, people in China and around the world celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, in honor of Chang’e. On this day, families gather together to admire the beauty of the full moon, eat mooncakes, and pay tribute to the Moon Goddess. It is a time of joy, reunion, and reflection on the enduring power of love and sacrifice.
The legend of Chang’e serves as a timeless reminder of the human desire for immortality, the power of love to transcend all boundaries, and the beauty of selfless sacrifice. Chang’e's story continues to captivate the hearts of all who hear it, inspiring us to cherish the ones we love and to hold onto hope, even in the face of separation and loss.