The Love Story of Hou Yi and Chang’e – A Mid-Autumn Moon Legend
Submitted by Julia Sayco
Since ancient times, the Mid-autumn Moon Festival, a celebration of spiritual growth and change, has become an endearing part of the lives of many families in Southeast Asia.
Both children and adults are enriched through a sense of unity and love by honoring the full-harvest moon and its nourishing light. In relation to what many consider as an “American Thanksgiving,” this time frame centralizes the importance of gathering together through recognition of the seasonal harvest.
While the holiday is well-known for its countless festivities, familial customs, and cultural traditions including the eating of fluffy mooncakes, the lighting of lanterns, and the peaceful viewing of the flowing tidal waves, it is also extremely fascinating to learn the influence of cultural ideals in the creation of the festival itself.
The magic and beauty of the holiday originates from the countless myths and legends that provide the spirit and joy of the Mid-autumn Moon Festival.
People who celebrate the Mid-autumn Moon Festival in its entirety devote themselves to admiring and worshipping the moon through continual gifts and “sacrifices”. As a symbol of reunion, fulfillment, and welfare, the moon is interrelated with a variety of ancient stories that fuel people’s appreciation of nature and their aspiration for renewal and prosperity.
The most compelling connection to the true meaning of the festival is a story that is of Chinese origin, which tells the tale of Hou Yi (后羿) and Chang’e (嫦娥).
As an award for his incredible triumph, the goddess rewarded Hou Yi with a special elixir of life that enabled him to be immortal. Hou Yi’s love and devotion to his wife, Chang’e, was so strong, that he held the desire to spend his life with her forever. Hou Yi and Chang’e decided to drink it together on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when the moon was round and bright.
Overhearing the possibility of attaining immortality, Feng Meng, a wicked man, planned to steal the elixir for himself. As a means of protection and immediate defense, Chang’e drank the elixir in its entirety, where she ascended to the Heavens and took the moon as her home. An ancient divination text, the Gui Cang (歸藏), recounts her deeds as such:
“In the past, Chang’e took the Western Queen Mother’s medicine of immortality and ate it, and subsequently fled to the moon, becoming the essence of the moon.”
Looking up to the silver orb filling the night sky, Hou Yi placed Chang’e’s favorite foods on the table as an offering to the moon.
Representing yin and yang (sun and moon) respectively, Hou Yi and Chang’e paved the way for the infamous celebration of appreciating the moon and valuing its light. The unification of community is greatly emphasized as families bond over this legend to give thanks to a successful harvest.
The myths, stories, legends and folklore that are cherished by the Asian community provide an astounding sense of cultural identity, individual expression, and guidance.
Hou Yi and Chang’e’s love story embody the highest moral values of Southeast Asian countries including China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines by encompassing the spirit and joy of the illuminating lunar glow.
