22/09/2015
Full Moon Festival is coming up! Here's a summary of The legend of Chang E:
It is said in ancient times, ten suns existed in the sky and the extreme heat made people’s lives very difficult. There was constant drought and wildfires caused famine and devastation across the lands.
A master archer named Hou Yi, using his great strength and prowess in archery shot down nine of the ten suns. Saving all humanity from certain doom. Word spread of his amazing feat, people from far and wide came to learn from him.
For a while, Yi lived with his beautiful wife Chang E, which he loved with all his heart, teaching his pupils the art of archery.
One day, on his way to visit his friend, Hou Yi came upon Wangmu (the queen of heavens) strolling in the hills. Hearing of his amazing feat Wangmu presented him an elixir which, if took, would allow him to ascend to the heavens to live with the Gods in eternal bliss.
Yi could not bear the thought of leaving his wife behind in the land of mortals never to return again. He decided not to take the elixir, but instead gave it to Chang E for safekeeping.
This secret was discovered by his pupil Peng Meng. Meng wanted immortality for himself. So while Hou Yi was out hunting one day, Meng rushed into the Hou Yi’s house and demanded that Chang E hand over the elixir or die.
Knowing that she is no match against Meng, Chang E did the only thing she could. She took out the elixir and immediately swallowed it. The moment she drank it, she flew out of the window and up into the sky. Chang E’s great love for her husband drew her towards the moon, the nearest place in the heavens from earth, where she is stuck for eternity.
Upon return, Hou Yi found out what happened to his wife, he shouted Chang E’s name to the sky and was amazed to see a figure which looked just like his wife appear in the moon. On the 15th of August lunar calendar every year, where the moon is the brightest in the sky, Hou Yi would set out Chang E’s favourite foods on a altar in the yard hoping Chang E would return. Hou Yi’s love for his wife eventually moved the Gods, and for one night every year, where the moon is the brightest, they would allow Chang E to return to earth to be with her husband.