The Story of Chang’e and Houyi

Chang’e is a central character of Mid-Autumn Festival tradition. As Goddess of the Moon, she is remembered during Mid-Autumn Festival, a.k.a. the Moon Festival.How did Chang’e rise up and land on the Moon? What’s the story of Chang’e, Hou Yi, and Mid-Autumn Festival? There are different versions of the legend. Here are two popular ones:

Chang’e and Houyi the Archer (Version 1)

Legend has it that Chang’e was a beautiful and kind woman, and her husband Hou Yi (后羿, Hòu Yì /ho ee/) was a brilliant archer.

During a time, thousands of years ago, when there were 10 suns, the Earth could not endure the smoldering heat. To save the earth, ‘Lord Archer’ Hou Yi shot down nine of the 10 suns, leaving behind just one.

Hou Yi was respected as the Earth’s hero and received an elixir of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West as a reward for saving the Earth and its people.

Chang’e and Houyi the Archer (Version 2)

In another popular version of the legend, Chang’e and her husband Hou Yi were immortals living in heaven.

One day, the ten sons of the Jade Emperor transformed into ten suns, causing the earth to scorch.

The Jade Emperor asked Hou Yi to stop his 10 sons ruining the earth. So, Hou Yi shot down nine of the sons, leaving just one. The Jade Emperor was so sad and angry at his nine sons’ deaths that he punished Hou Yi and Chang’e by making them live as mere mortals on earth.

Distressed by his wife’s grief over becoming an ordinary mortal, Hou Yi journeyed to meet the Queen Mother of the West and requested a vial of her elixir. The Queen Mother warned Hou Yi that the elixir must be shared between him and his wife or else they would not become immortal together.

Upon arriving home, Hou Yi stored the vial in a case and warned Chang’e not to open the case, before going off on urgent business. Unable to wait for her return to heaven, Chang’e swallowed the entire vial of elixir. Because of the overdose, Chang’e kept on floating until she landed on the moon, instead of just floating up to heaven in the clouds.

Get to know more stories about Mid-Autumn Festival including the Jade Rabbit.

Slaying monsters, including a giant python that was terrorizing the people

Before shooting down the nine Suns, Houyi was revered by the people for slaying menacing monsters in the countryside, using his tiger-bone bow and dragon-tendon arrows, including a giant python. Today’s visit is about this heroic feat.

References

https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival-story-change.htm

https://mythopedia.com/topics/hou-yi/

Photos by Amir

China’s public squares tend to be on the large size, even in third to fifth level cities like Yueyang.

Houyi not only saved Earth by shooting down nine Suns, he also slayed a giant python, the subject of this immense and action packed statue. That is yours truly going to check it out. China’s public spaces, including parks and squares are almost always trash- and garbage-free. Not to mention no drugs, gangs, prostitutes, beggars, homeless people or illegal migrants.

Houyi taking care of the people’s business, wiping out metaphorical evil. That is Lake Dongting in the background, China’s second largest inland body of water.

Up close and personal. No one and nothing fuggs with Hero Houyi!

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