Chinese Legend of Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Once up on a time, ten suns rosing in the skyscorching many crops and people to death.
A brave man called Hou Yi came to rescue them.
He excelled at archery and shot down nine of suns.
Only one sun was left in the sky to give people light and warmth.
On hearing of his amazing feat,
people came from far and wide to admire Yi.
Among his admirers was Pang Meng
whom Yi accepted as his apprentice.
Even the immortals noticed Hou Yi.
One day the Queen of Heaven came down to Earth.
She told Yi that as a reward for his bravery,
the gods would give him an elixir of immortality
so that he could drink it and join them in heaven
But Yi was married to a beautiful and kind woman, Chang E
who he loved dearly.
He wanted to be immortal, but he wanted to spend his life with her more
so he gave the elixir to his wife
and asked her to hide it away.
But Pang Meng broke into Yi's house while he was away and demanded the elixir.
Chang E couldn't fight him
but she wouldn't allow such a man to have the elixir.
She drank it herself and immediately ascended into the skies.
When Hou Yi didn't find his wife at home, he went looking for her.
The night was bright with the full moon rising high above him.
Yi looked up and was amazed to see a figure
which looked like his wife appear in the moon.
Chang E's love for Hou Yi drew her towards the moon,
which was the nearest place to Earth in the heavens.
Up on realizing what had happened,
Hou Yi brought her favourite foods, cakes and fruits
out in the moonlight to share with his wife.
On hearing the story,
many people participated in bringing their offerings to the moon.
This is one of the origin myths of the Moon Festival.
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