description Chang'e and Hou Yi Overview
Chang'e and Hou Yi are central figures in ancient Chinese mythology, heavily associated with the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival. According to legend, the archer Hou Yi shot down nine of the ten suns to save the Earth from scorching. His wife Chang'e subsequently swallowed an immortality elixir to keep it from a thief, which caused her to float to the Moon, where she remains as a lunar deity.
help Chang'e and Hou Yi FAQ
Why did Hou Yi shoot down nine suns?
In a widely told version, ten suns appeared together and scorched the earth, threatening crops and human life. The archer Hou Yi shot down nine and left one sun to illuminate the world.
Why did Chang'e drink Hou Yi's immortality elixir?
Versions differ: some say she swallowed it to prevent a thief such as Peng Meng from taking it, while others portray the act less sympathetically. After drinking it, she rose to the Moon and became its divine inhabitant.
How are Chang'e and Hou Yi connected to the Mid-Autumn Festival?
Chang'e's life on the Moon and separation from Hou Yi became a story of longing associated with the full moon. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates reunion and is marked by moon viewing and mooncakes.
Is the Jade Rabbit part of the Chang'e story?
Yes, the Jade Rabbit is commonly depicted as Chang'e's companion on the Moon. Chinese lunar missions use the name Yutu, meaning Jade Rabbit, while the national exploration program takes its name from Chang'e.
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