Chang'e and the Moon - Chinese

Hello, my name is Chang’e, and long ago, I lived in a world warmed by ten suns, a place of great heroes and even greater love. My husband, Hou Yi, was the bravest archer in all the land, but a special gift would soon force me to make a choice that would send me soaring into the night sky. This is the story of how I came to live on the moon, a tale known as Chang'e and the Moon.

In the time when my story begins, the world was too hot. Ten fiery suns, who were brothers, were supposed to take turns crossing the sky, but one day they all came out to play at once! The rivers began to bubble like soup in a pot, the crops in the fields turned brown and crispy, and the people were miserable. My brave husband, Hou Yi, knew he had to do something to save everyone. With his mighty bow that was as big as a tree branch, he aimed for the sky. One by one, he shot nine of the suns down with his magic arrows, leaving just one to warm the Earth gently. The people cheered for him as a hero, and to thank him, the Queen Mother of the West gave him a special reward: a tiny bottle holding a potion that would let a person live forever.

Hou Yi didn't want to live forever without me by his side. Our love was more precious than any magic potion. So, he gave me the bottle to keep safe in a little wooden box, promising we would share it one day. But a greedy man named Fengmeng, who pretended to be my husband’s friend, had spied on him and knew about the potion. One day, on the fifteenth of August, while Hou Yi was away hunting in the forest, Fengmeng broke into our home. He waved a big sword and demanded I give him the potion. I knew I couldn't let such a cruel and selfish person have it. With no time to think and no way to escape, I did the only thing I could: I grabbed the bottle, uncorked it, and drank the potion myself.

As soon as I drank the last shimmering drop, I felt as light as a dandelion puff floating in the wind. My feet lifted off the ground, and I began to float up, up, up into the sky. I drifted past the fluffy white clouds and towards the sparkling stars. I cried out for Hou Yi, but I was already too high for him to hear me. I wanted to stay as close to my husband as I could, so I chose the bright, beautiful moon as my new home. From there, I could look down and watch over him on Earth every night. People say a gentle Jade Rabbit came to keep me company, and you can still see him on the moon if you look closely, pounding special herbs with a pestle. When Hou Yi returned and learned what happened, his heart was broken. He would set out a table with my favorite round fruits and sweet cakes every year on the night of the fullest moon, hoping to catch a glimpse of me.

My story has been told for thousands of years, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. On this special night, families gather together under the bright moonlight to share round mooncakes that look like the full moon. They light lanterns and gaze up at the sky, searching for me and my loyal Jade Rabbit. The tale of Chang'e and the Moon reminds us of love, bravery, and the beautiful, glowing moon that connects us all, no matter how far apart we may be. It inspires us to look up and wonder, keeping the magic of the night sky alive in our hearts forever. And if you look up at the full moon, perhaps you will see me waving back.