The Lady on the Moon

The mid-autumn festival or the Mooncake Festival that falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar is celebrated by the Chinese all over the world. Here’s how it all began.

Long, long ago, there was a time in the world when the sons of a god became ten suns in the sky so that they could deliberately scorch the earth. These burning orbs began to circle the earth together, bringing death and destruction everywhere.

The wise Emperor of China summoned Hou Yi, a master of archery, who had vanquished many a ferocious enemy, man and animal, to save his people. ‘Go forth, Hou Yi. Bring down all but one of those blazing suns. Our people can take no more of this,’ ordered the Emperor.

Hou Yi shot down nine suns and the grateful earth cooled down. Task done, Hou Yi began his journey back home. On the way, the Goddess of the Western Heavens appeared before him and gave him a magic pill as a reward for vanquishing the nine suns.

‘This, my son,’ said the golden-hued goddess, ‘is the elixir of life and will make you immortal. But make no haste. Spend a year in prayer and fasting and prepare yourself before you take it.’ Hou Yi was as wise as he was brave. So he took the pill home and hid it in a rafter in his roof.

Now, Yi was married to a beautiful but curious woman named Chang’e. He had meant to tell her that they would take the pill together to become immortal but he was suddenly summoned by the Emperor before he could do so.

Alone in the house, Chang’e noticed a white beam of light coming from the rafter. As she approached, she could smell a fragrant perfume and soon spotted the magical pill. What was this her husband had hidden from her? Without a thought, she swallowed the pill and found herself becoming light on her feet. Soon she was gently gliding upwards and then flying higher and higher!

At that very moment, Hou Yi returned to see his wife flying around the high ceiling of their home. ‘What have you done now, you stupid woman?’ he shouted as she floated round and round! An angry Hou Yi began to scold her and she flew right out the window and up the sky.

He had to stop her now! Yi followed, bow in hand, as Chang’e sped through the heavens but the force of the wind slowed him down.

Chang’e flew right up to the moon. Breathless, she coughed and half the pill fell from her mouth.

Now, the Jade Rabbit lived on the moon. He seemed such an amiable fellow and sort of eager to please, or so Chang’e decided, bossy woman that she was. ‘You rabbit! Get to work and make me another of those shiny, magic pills. I know you can. Those things must surely come from a place like this!’

She ordered Jade Rabbit to take a mortar and pestle to make another pill so that she could return to her husband on earth. On a clear, full-moon night, if you look closely at the moon, you can see the poor rabbit still pounding!

As for Yi, he built himself a palace on the sun, as Yang, the male principle. Chang’e had to live on the moon and is Ying, the female principle. Once a year, on the full-moon night on the fifteenth day of the month, Yi visits his wife and that’s when the moon shines bright and beautiful!

The Chinese celebrate this mid-autumn moonlit night by eating mooncakes, and sipping tea with family and friends. It’s also a time to pray for and remember those members of the family who are apart. For children, there are lanterns to be lit and carried around. Fireworks and sparklers add to the celebration.