According to the legend, once in ancient times, ten suns rose in the sky. Crops were dying and people were suffering. A hero named Hou-Yi felt sympathy for the people and shot down nine of the suns, leaving just one sun rising and falling on time.

Legend of Chang'e Flying to Moon/Photo: Sipa

Hou-Yi was therefore respected and adored by people, and he married a beautiful and virtuous girl named Chang'e. One day, he asked an elixir of immortality from the Queen Mother. It was said that the elixir could make a person become an immortal instantly. However, Hou-Yi was unwilling to leave his wife, and he gave the elixir to Chang'e for safekeeping.

Chang'e put the elixir into a case of her dressing table, which was seen by Peng Meng who was very treacherous. He wanted to take the elixir and become an immortal. Later when Hou-Yi was not home, Peng Meng broke into Hou-Yi's House with a sword and threatened Chang'e to hand over the elixir. At a crisis, Chang'e fetched the elixir from the case and swallowed it promptly.

Suddenly, Chang'e floated away from the ground, dashed out of the window and flew towards the sky. She became an immortal and stayed on the moon which was the nearest to the earth.

Hou-Yi was in desperation. He missed his wife so much that he asked his maids to put an incense table in the back garden, which was the favorite place of Chang'e, and put desserts and fresh fruits which were the favorite food of Chang’e on the table, holding a memorable ceremony for Chang'e who lived on the distant Moon Palace and missed him the same. When the local people heard that Chang'e flew to the moon and became an immortal, they all arranged incense tables below the moon for the worship of virtuous Chang'e, praying for good luck and safeness. Since then, worshipping and appreciating the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival has become popular.