Long ago, when the world was in great danger, ten suns appeared together in the sky. The intense heat burned crops, dried rivers, and made people suffer terribly. Many died from hunger and heat.
A brave and skilled archer named Hou Yi felt sorry for the people. He climbed to the top of a high mountain, took out his bow and arrows, and shot down nine of the ten suns one by one. Only one sun remained, rising and setting gently as it does today. The earth finally cooled down, and people could live in peace again.
To reward Hou Yi for saving the world, the Queen Mother of the West gave him a special pill of immortality. She told him:
“This pill can make you a god. But you must only take half; if you take the whole pill, you will fly straight to heaven at once.”
Hou Yi loved his beautiful and kind wife Chang’e deeply. He did not want to become immortal alone and leave her behind. So he brought the pill home, gave it to Chang’e, and asked her to keep it safe.
One day, Hou Yi’s evil apprentice Feng Meng found out about the pill. When Hou Yi went out hunting, Feng Meng broke into their house with a sword. He threatened Chang’e, demanding she hand over the immortality pill.
Chang’e knew that if Feng Meng took the pill, he would become powerful and bring disaster to the world. Left with no choice, she quickly swallowed the entire pill herself.
Immediately, her body became light and weightless. She slowly floated up into the sky. She did not want to go too far from her husband, so she chose to live on the moon, the closest and brightest place to Earth.
From then on, Chang’e lived alone in the Moon Palace (Guanghan Palace), accompanied only by a jade rabbit. Hou Yi missed her terribly. Every night, he looked up at the moon, thinking of his wife.
Later, people admired Chang’e’s courage and loyalty. They began to worship the moon on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which became the Mid‑Autumn Festival – a day for family reunion, moon appreciation, and eating mooncakes.
Note
- Hou Yi:
A hero in ancient Chinese mythology, famous for shooting the extra suns and saving humanity. He represents bravery, responsibility, and love for the people. - Chang’e:
The goddess of the moon in Chinese myths. She stands for kindness, loyalty, and sacrifice. She is the most well-known figure related to the moon. - Feng Meng:
Hou Yi’s apprentice. He is greedy and evil, representing selfishness and betrayal in the story. - Immortality pill:
A magical medicine in Chinese myths that grants eternal life and the ability to fly to heaven. It symbolizes the ancient Chinese pursuit of longevity. - Mid‑Autumn Festival:
One of the most important traditional festivals in China. It celebrates family reunion, harvest, and the beauty of the full moon. - Moon appreciation & mooncakes:
People admire the full moon and eat mooncakes, which are round like the moon, symbolizing unity and togetherness.
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