The Story of Chang’e Flying to the Moon
Once upon a time, in ancient China, there was a beautiful and virtuous queen named Chang’e. She was the wife of Hou Yi, a great archer who had shot down nine of the ten suns that had been causing chaos on Earth.
One day, Hou Yi was given a magical potion by the Queen Mother of the West, which was said to grant immortality to whoever drank it. Hou Yi, being the humble and selfless man he was, decided to share the potion with his closest friends and colleagues.
However, the potion was so powerful that it caused Hou Yi to become immortal, but it was too much for his body to handle. He felt extremely weak and knew that he could not live with the burden of immortality. Desperate to save his beloved wife, Hou Yi gave the potion to Chang’e, hoping that she could consume it and become immortal.
Chang’e, with a heavy heart, drank the potion. In an instant, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her body. But instead of feeling rejuvenated, she felt herself being lifted off the ground. She looked up and saw the moon in the sky, which seemed to call to her.
In her weakened state, Chang’e was unable to resist the moon’s pull. She was drawn upwards, away from Earth, and towards the moon. As she floated through the sky, she realized that she was becoming one with the moon, its eternal cycle of phases and its serene beauty.
On the moon, Chang’e found herself in a beautiful garden, filled with silver grass and flowers that glowed with a soft, silvery light. She realized that she had become a spirit, part of the moon itself. From that day on, Chang’e lived on the moon, watching over Earth and the people she loved from afar.
The story of Chang’e Flying to the Moon has become a symbol of love, sacrifice, and the enduring bond between a husband and wife. It is a tale that has been passed down through generations, inspiring people to look up at the moon and remember the legend of Chang’e.
And so, every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, families in China gather to admire the full moon and eat mooncakes, a traditional pastry, in honor of Chang’e and her journey to the moon.
