About Us Because China follows the ancient lunar calendar — and the … It was said that Chang'e became immortal and stayed on the moon nearest to the earth, as she was anxious about her husband Hou Yi. He tried time and time again, and is still trying now. In desperation, Chang E swallowed it in desperation and flew to the moon. There was a powerful archer named Hou Yi, who was determined to relieve this suffering. Now I am very hungry. He caught sight of a swaying figure that was exactly like Chang'e. Work for Us, call us at: 86-773-286-5632 (Intl rates apply), © All Rights Reserved,Chinatravel.com® is a registered trademark, Tips for Traveling During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Top Places to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival in Other Asian Countries, 1-Day Suzhou and Tongli Water Town Tour from Shanghai. One day, Hou Yi went hunting with his students, but Pang Meng (/pung mnng/) pretended to be ill and stay at home. China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Harvest Moon Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar — or October 1 this year. He said to the last sun in the sky: “From now on, you must rise on time and fall on time every day, and benefit the people!” From then on, everyone respected him. Our experienced tour guide will optimize the itinerary based on the traffic, weather, and crowded status to make sure you have an enjoyable journey. Train Here are three popular stories about the Chinese Moon Festival. Most children in China believe that Chang'e is still living on the moon. At nightfall, Hou Yi went back home and was told by his maids what had happened during his absence. Eat me, please!" To honor her, I will let her go to the Moon Palace, so that people can see her forever. He came back home and moved a table under the moon, preparing some food on it. Hou Yi was very sad when he received the news. On the morning of a 15th day of an 8th lunar month, Fengmeng broke into Chang E's home when Hou Yi was outside hunting and demanded that she hand over the elixir. The greedy Fengmeng wanted the elixir so much. In the crisis, Chang'e fetched the elixir from the case and promptly swallowed it. FAQ Hou Yi went back home and found his wife had disappeared. Further Reading6 Most Well-Known Legends about Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival History and Origin since 3,000 Years Ago. When you look up at the bright moon, you can see a black shadow, which is just the legendary Wu Gang, trying to cut down a sweet osmanthus tree. If Wu Gang could cut it down, he could become immortal. There are many stories about Mid Autumn Festival and its origins, but I’ve chosen this one since it encompasses the romantic ideals that this festival seems to have. When local people heard the story of Chang'e, they arranged incense tables below the moon for the worship of the goddess Chang'e, praying for happiness and safety. These poor old men begged for food from a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit. But the rabbit hasn't brought back anything.". People were dying. Long, long ago, there were 10 suns in the sky. As a reward, Wangmu, the Queen of Heaven, gave him the elixir of immortality. He hoped Chang'e could come back to stay with him. Chang E, Hou Yi’s wife, was a beautiful and kind woman who helped the poor, and people liked her very much. This is made by the huge cherry bay. Hou Yi was furious and immediately went to kill Peng Meng. He climbed to the top of Kunlun Mountain, took full strength to pull the bow with all his strength and shot down nine suns. The stories and legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival are quite interesting. Read some of the most widespread stories about the Mid-Autumn Festival below. When you look at the moon on a clear night, you can see there is a shadow on it. Pang Meng, one such student, wanted to seize his elixir. The crop was drying and people suffered a lot. However, Wu Gang was careless, impatient, and he couldn't concentrate. One day when Hou Yi went out to hunt with his disciples, the disingenuous Peng Meng pretended to be ill and didn't go with them. 6 Most Well-Known Legends about Mid-Autumn Festival. One day, Hou Yi used his bow and arrows to shoot down nine of them. However, Hou Yi was unwilling to leave his wife, Chang'e, so he did not take the elixir. Chang E!” He screamed and shouted desperately toward the moon. As a reward, Wangmu, the Queen of Heaven, gave him the elixir of immortality. Wu Gang (/woo gung/) was an ordinary person who wanted to become immortal but didn't work very hard, and he never tried his best to learn the necessary theurgy. Hou Yi hastily asked his maids to put an incense table in the back garden and to place fresh fruit and moon cakes – the favorite food of Chang'e – on the table, convening a memorable ceremony for Chang'e, who lived on the distant moon. Travel in China during the Mid-Autumn Festival with us and enjoy free Chinese mooncakes! ". He could never finish his work because the cherry bay was healed every time that Wu Gang chopped it. For an authentic travel experience, contact one of our travel advisors. Not every student of Hou Yi had good morality. There are quite a few stories associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the most popular are the legend of the goddess of the moon - Chang'e and the rabbit on the moon. And on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is bright, children try their best to find the shape of Chang'e on the moon. He rushed out of the door anxiously, Chang E was standing next to a laurel tree on the moon and staring lovingly at her husband. The Moon Festival, also called the Mid-Autumn Festival or Mid-Autumn Day, is second in importance only to the Spring Festival. Then the three animals went their separate ways to find food. It was said that even half of the elixir could make a person live forever. Like all popular legends, the story changes depending on the social reality. But you know what? The suns burnt all the plants on Earth. Chang'e (/chung-er/) was his wife. She became immortal. Copyright © 1998-2020 All rights reserved. The rabbit felt very sorry. You can see many pictures about the Mid-Autumn Festival when you Google this festival's images. Every holiday or festival has its story or background. "Please wait here. It's said there used to be three immortals disguised as three poor old men. Several versions of Mid-Autumn Festival story about Chang E flying to the moon are spread in the folklore. Hou Yi was not willing to become an immortal himself and gave the elixir to Chang E, his wife, for safekeeping. After making sure Hou Yi had gone, he went to Hou Yi's house and tried to force Chang'e to give him the elixir. All the people on Earth were saved. What will you offer me?". Thanking the skies for the end of the autumn harvest, the Mid-Autumn Festival has heart-warming myths behind it. Contact Us Falling on August 15 of the lunar calendar, Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang dynasty (618-907), but the word "mid-autumn" actually appeared in an ancient book over 3,000 years ago. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when the moon is believed to be the fullest and roundest.Members of the family gather together for a reunion dinner and to appreciate the moon while eating moon-cakes of various flavors. Blog and the rabbit jumped into the fire. He invited an immortal to be his teacher, seeking instructions from him. The Emperor of Heaven got angry with him because of his attitude. The most popular one is that a powerful archer, Hou Yi, shot down nine suns and saved people from suffering. Wu Gang wouldn't give up. But once he chased forward, the moon went back, so he could never catch up. Instead, the rabbit invited the old men to eat its meat and promptly plunged into the raging fire. The most popular one is that a powerful archer, Hou Yi, shot down nine suns and saved people from suffering. It is a good company for Chang'e, and it mashes herbs and makes elixirs of life there, day after day. The woman is in ancient dress and is usually stepping on a white cloud. Chang'e and Hou Yi — Love Story of a Beautiful Lady and a Hero. But the elixir was only for one person. Since then, every year on 15th day of eighth lunar month, Hou Yi set up a banquet towards the moon, hoping to reunite with Chang E. According to the most widely spread Mid-Autumn Festival story, in ancient times there were ten suns shining in the sky. A man named Fengmeng who was treacherous and greedy was among them. Many people became followers of him and learned from him. The immortal became furious and made Wu Gang stay on the moon, informing him that he could become immortal once he had cut down the moon's sweet osmanthus tree. Now, let's travel through time and get to know the long history of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Immediately she floated up into the sky. Wu Gang tried his best to fell the tree with his ax. On a 15th day of an eighth lunar month, when Hou Yi was not out, one of his followers called Pengmeng forced Chang E to hand over the elixir. However, the tree would always re-grow naturally into its former state. Since then, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people have offered lots of food to worship the moon. However, Hou Yi was not willing to leave his wife Chang E alone on the earth, so he gave her the elixir for safekeeping. Chang'e put the elixir of life into a case in her dressing table, but she was observed by one of Hou Yi's disciples, Peng Meng, who was very treacherous. There are quite a few stories associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the most popular are the legend of the goddess of the moon - Chang'e and the rabbit on the moon. People wanted him to be their master and most of them were accepted by Hou Yi. I want to cook some food for him," she said to the fox and monkey. We will come back with food soon." In order to punish him, the Emperor of Heaven planted a huge cherry bay tree, which was 1,665 meters (5,460 feet) high, on the moon and ordered Wu Gang to cut it down. The Emperor of Heaven was deeply moved by the rabbit. Mid-Autumn Festival History. After they set the firewood on the fire, the rabbit said, "Sorry I didn't fulfill my promise. The three immortals were deeply moved by the rabbit and decided to bring it to the palace of the moon. There are many magical legends explaining the origin of the festival. The fox and the monkey offered something to eat, but the rabbit had nothing to give them. Many traditional customs practiced by Chinese people today all over the world are based on events and rituals that have been passed down through thousands of years of Chinese culture, and many originate around remembered events of great crisis or strife.Similarly, the tradition of giving mooncakes to friends, relatives and colleagues during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reminder of the rebellion which succeeded in overthrowing the Mon… One day, the Emperor of Heaven wanted to test the animals' virtues. The pictures usually contain a beautiful woman and a bright moon. This saying makes Chang E a beautiful but selfish lady, and it is said that Chang E was changed into an ugly toad for punishing for her stealing. As soon as she swallowed it, she flew to the sky towards the moon. One version of Moon Festival story has that Chang E stole the elixir and swallowed it on purpose, discarding her husband Hou Yi and then flew to the moon palace.