The Tale of Chang'e and the Moon Goddess
Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon, is a fascinating figure in ancient mythology. She has been immortalized in countless stories and legends throughout history. In this article, we will delve into one of the most well-known tales surrounding Chang'e: her love affair with Hou Yi, the archer god.
The Legend Begins
According to "China Myths," a collection of 100 legendary stories from Chinese folklore translated into English, Chang'e was once a mortal woman who lived on earth during China's Han Dynasty. She fell deeply in love with Hou Yi, an exceptional archer known for his bravery and strength.
Their Love Affair
Hou Yi's fame as an archer spread far and wide across China. People from all over would come to see him shoot arrows at targets set up by his wife, Chang'e. One day while they were practicing their aim together on Mount Tai (Tai Shan), she accidentally consumed an elixir meant for immortality given by her sister-in-law.
The Elixir's Effects
Drinking the elixir caused Chang'e to ascend straight to heaven where she became one with the celestial body that bears her name - The Moon (Yue Ling). Overwhelmed by grief upon realizing what had happened to his beloved wife due to his own negligence, Hou Yi tried everything he could think of to bring her back down from heaven but failed.
A Solution Found
After much contemplation and seeking advice from various gods including Zhong Kui (a protector against evil spirits) who appeared before him in dreams or visions offering guidance through difficult times; it was decided that instead of trying directly fetch chang' e down from heaven himself; he should send off some mortals like him - two monkeys called Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) & Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) along with Tang Sanzang Monk Tang - who had embarked on a journey westward searching for Buddhist scriptures.
These three companions are also featured prominently in another famous Chinese legend called Journey To The West which is part of "China Myths." They managed successfully retrieve these sacred texts after overcoming numerous obstacles along their route but ultimately were unable help change return down earth because it seemed destined otherwise accordingly divine plans unfolded further.
Conclusion
In conclusion while many people believe that there are still more ways left unexplored when dealing with complex situations such as those involving gods or supernatural beings within our world today especially now since modern technology has allowed us access so many different types sources information about history culture etc., perhaps sometimes it is best not try force things beyond human control even if loved ones suffer consequences due actions taken without fully understanding implications involved overall lesson learned here can be applied universally whether dealing matters personal professional life: patience persistence resilience key components success story chang' e hou yi tale teaches us about importance these virtues when faced challenging circumstances especially those involving elements beyond our grasp