Long time ago, Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky and a terrible drought plagued the earth. The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou arrived, he took out his red bow and white arrows and shot down the nine suns one after another. The weather immediately got cooler. Life was restored and humanity was saved.
A mortal’s life is limited. To enjoy a happy life with Chang`e, a charming young woman , Hou traveled to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother lived for the elixir of life.
Out of respect for his good deeds. The Western Queen Mother rewarded Hou with the elixir. A fine powder made from fruit kernels that grew on the tree of eternity. She told him that he and his wife would both enjoy eternal life only if they drank it together. If only one of them took it, he or she alone would ascend to the heaven and become immortal.
Hou and his wife decided to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon was full and bright.
But a wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng overheard their plan and killed Hou so that he could drink the elixir himself .The murderer then arrived at Hou`s home demanding Chang`e to give him the elixir. Without a moment’s hesitation, Chang`e picked up the elixir and drank every last drop of it.
Overcome with grief, she rushed to her dead husband’s side, weeping bitterly. Soon the elixir began to take effect and Chang`e felt herself being lifted towards the heaven.
Chang`e decided to live on the moon because it was closest to the earth. There. She led a simple and contented life although her heart remained in the mortal world. Chang`e never forgot her deep love for Hou and the people who had shared in their sadness and joys.
It is said that Chang`e transformed herself into moonlight and descended onto the earth to offer good fortune. Thus. Couples declare their mutual love under the full moon and separated lovers pray to be reunited under the full moon.
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