With the Mid Autumn Festival coming around September 24, 2018, the stories often told during the festival come along with it. The story of the 嫦娥奔月 is a actually a follow up of the story 后羿射日.
After the mortal hero Hou-yi shot down nine of the ten suns in the sky that scorched the earth, he was praised by the heavenly emperor. As a reward, the emperor wanted to make Hou-yi immortal. However, Hou-yi declined that offer. His wife, Chang’e, was still waiting for him back on earth., and he wished to stay by her side forever. Sadly, that would be impossible if he became immortal all by himself. As a result, the emperor gave him a 长生不老药 instead. This reward would grant him immortality, a reward for if he ever changed his mind. Once back on Earth, Hou-yi asked Chang’e to hide the reward. Unfortunately, Hou-yi’s servant had overheard the couple talking about the reward, a pill for immortality in the heavens. The next day, when Hou-yi went out in town, the servant snuck into their cabin to take the pill for himself. Chang’e found him lurking around in their cabin and told him to get out. He threatened her to tell him where it is, so in a panic, Chang’e ate the pill, making sure the servant would never get his hands on it.
On his way back to the cabin, Hou-yi’s eyes locked on the figure floating toward the sky. It was his beloved wife Chang’e whom he never wished to part. Chang’e tried to tell him what had happened, but Hou-yi was enraged. He shouted for her to come back, he shouted at her for betraying him, he shouted, and shouted…but all Chang’e could do was watch her husband disappear into a speck on Earth as tears flowed down her face.
Chang’e begged the heavenly emperor to offer Hou-yi immortality so that they could be together, but the emperor refused. Her husband gave up immortality in order to be with her, yet she still left him along on Earth. The emperor saw that as a disgrace and banned her to the solitary pale white moon. She would now stay on the moon forever, away from her love.
Great article! I have heard of this story many times before during the Mid-autumn festival but I haven’t heard of the part where Chang’e was not forgiven and misunderstood by her husband and the heavenly emperor. I think that it was very interesting how no one understood her and listened to her.
What an interesting article. I have heard the story from my family friends during the Mid-Autumn festival. This story was very popular when you are in China because during the festival the parents would always say this to their children so that they could remember this fable. This article has made people cried because of the events that happen during this story.
This story is very interesting. I learned that Hou-yi shot down nine of the ten suns in the sky. Then, he rejected the emperor’s offer of immortality. I don’t understand why Chang’e chose to take the pill. Then, she would have still been on Earth with Hou Yi.
Nice article! My middle school Chinese teacher told my class about this story. Although she never went into this great detail like you did. She would also tell it in Chinese so I only got about half the things she said. This reminds me a lot about Europeans and their way of explaining things in the world before they had Science.
There is so much detail in these stories. The pictures are very vibrant and engaging. This story is so sad and depressing. Chang’e has to suffer all by herself for all eternity. I find it intresting that she could have just not told the servant where the pill was, but she had to eat the pill herself. Great story, thanks for sharing.
Great article! Although we have studied this story many times in class, but not as in depth. I don’t know why Chang’e decided to take the pill. If she didn’t she wouldn’t have to be on the moon forever by herself. It’s sad that Hou-yi ended up giving up the immortality but in the end he couldn’t be with her.
wow this article is amazing! i have always heard of this story every year but i never really understood it like this. the article had lots of detail and is actually really saddening . only if hou yi knew the real reason chang’e took the pill.
这些故事让我更加了解了中国的文化。 中国文化真的是博大精深， 可以用四个字就讲出一个故事。我最喜欢的是后羿射日， 真的好厉害。