The Moon Festival is rooted in many different myths. Hou Yi descended to Earth and saw the devastation the suns had brought to the land. The Moon Festival legend about Hou Yi and Chang E is always told to children at this time. About Us. When circumstances prevent couples from getting together during the event, they pass the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems as if they are together for the night. Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th moon day of the 8th Chinese lunar month based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Drink half, and both Hou Yi and his wife could enjoy everlasting life on Earth, drink it all and one of them could ascend to heaven as an immortal. Chang’e and Hou Yi is the most common story about a local archer and his wife’s ultimate sacrifice. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. The Moon Festival is rooted in many different myths. History of Moon Festival . Sep 24, 2015 - Here are some fun books you can use to celebrate and explain the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with!. The Moon Festival, also called the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, is one of the major traditional holidays celebrated by Chinese people.It is always on … Moon Cakes. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes and sing moon poems. If you're planning to attend a Chinese Moon Festival or simply want to know more about a festival you've previously attended, this review will better acquaint you with the origins of the festival, the traditional foods associated with it and the different ways it's celebrated. The Legend Behind the Fest. The Jade Emperor who was the ruler of Heaven had 10 sons who were more than a little troublesome. Although the Moon Festival is a place where families congregate, it is also considered a romantic occasion. The Jade Emperor would not help them, so they had to seek out other means. The Jade Rabbit — Self-Sacrifice Rewarded. The Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival There are many folktales surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival. The custom of eating moon cakes tells a story of the downfall of the Yuan dynasty. Sep 21, 2012 - Explore Caroline Liu's board "Moon Festival", followed by 301 people on Pinterest. Chang E Flying to the Moon. The Jade Emperor who was the ruler of Heaven had 10 sons who were more than a little troublesome. More than 50% of the full moon is on the 16th lunar day in China. As with most Chinese festivals, there is a story to go along with Moon Festival. Needless to say, the Jade Emperor was less than pleased that nine of his sons were dead. By the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Mid-Autumn Festival had been fixed which became even grander in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Among them is the love story of Chang'e and valiant archer Hou Yi. Celebrations are held in countries that are home to large Chinese populations. Desi Tzoneva. One version of Moon Festival story has that Chang E stole the elixir and swallowed it on purpose, discarding her husband Hou Yi and then flew to the moon palace. 2 months ago. The festival legend, after all, is about a couple, Hou Yi and Chang'e, who are madly in love and devoted to one another. There are many versions of the Moon Festival legend, but most of them involve the archer Hou Yi and his wife Chang’e. A great number of poems has been devoted to this romantic festival. In his anger, he shot down nine of the suns leaving only one in the sky to warm the Earth. This year, 中秋节 holiday falls on September 13, 2019. This festival is one of many observed in China, which is home to a number of traditional celebrations. The Mooncake. The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. On the 15th day of the lunar month, the moon forms a round shape that symbolizes family reunion. As with all legends, the story changes depending on the teller but often it goes something like this. The “Lady Chang’e Flying to the moon”, “Jade Rabbit Mashing Herbs” and “Wu Gang Cutting Sweet Osmanthus” stories are among the many legends which are popular as folk tales. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. One day they decided to transform themselves into 10 blazing suns which scorched the Earth. But for now, that is the story behind the celebration of Moon Festival. Mandarin Phrases for the Mid-Autumn Festival, The Once-Mysterious Phases of the Moon Explained, Quick Ways to Learn about Space and Astronomy, B.A., East Asian Studies, Brown University. The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the “ Moon Festival ” as it is observed during a bright, full moon. Together, the full moon, the legend, the family gatherings and the poems recited during the event make the festival a great cultural observance. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. As one of the most popular cultural events in Taiwan, Moon Festival is a holiday with many traditions and quite a lot of history. Charlie Custer is a writer, editor, and video producer focusing on China. Once upon a time, there were ten suns in the sky, scorching many crops and people to death. As the festival is celebrated at the midpoint of the lunar month (also the middle of autumn), it is called the Mid-Autumn Festival. This saying makes Chang E a beautiful but selfish lady, and it is said that Chang E was changed into … As with all legends, the story changes depending on the teller but often it goes something like this. When Hou Yi returned to his wife, he explained all that had passed. Contact Info . He asked his archer Hou Yi to set about finding a way to teach them a lesson. Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese Moon Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Chang'e: The moon festival goddess Like many cultural celebrations, the Mid-Autumn Festival is shrouded in myth. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival. Chang’e was delighted that he had managed to find the elixir and looked forward to the everlasting life that they would share. The Chinese Moon Festival is the 15th lunar day of the 8th lunar month. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. What do people do during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival? The moon cake, however, isn't just for couples. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK", Can you see the lady in the moon? But Hou Yi didn't drink the elixir because he wanted to remain with his wife, Chang'e (pronounced Chung-err). The festival, held in honor of the brightest full moon of the year, falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, usually in September or early October. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. | © J pod / Wikimedia. Part 1: Hou Yi Shoots 9 Suns. It’s an interesting tale and one that will no doubt change again as the years go by. The Jade Emperor was furious and decided enough was enough. So, he told her to watch over the potion. Here’s a look at the story behind this special day in the lunar calendar. Chinese will appreciate the Moon on that night to see how full the Moon is. Hou Yi Shoots 9 Suns. Chinese culture is steeped in intricacies and wonderful tales, and with a 4000-year history, there are bound to be some stories that are more memorable than others. In the distant … He banished Hou Yi and his wife Chang’e from Heaven forcing them to live as mortals. He directed a documentary film about human trafficking in China. During this special festival, families would reunite, enjoy spherical fruits and mooncakes, and decorate their home with Chinese lanterns. The Moon Festival is only used in the Western World. These festivals tend to occur on the same day or around the Mid-Autumn Festival. While the Mid-autumn Festival originated in China and is celebrated in many Asian countries, the Vietnamese version has its own traditions and legends. This caused people to die, so Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns and was given an elixir by the Queen of Heaven to make him immortal. They enjoyed the full, bright moon on that day, worshipped it and expressed their thoughts and feelings under it. The Queen listened to his tale and felt pity for him and so gave him some of the elixir. The Moon Festival. The Legend of Chang E. Sponsors. Chinese Moon Festival – a story of love, hard work, and self-sacrifice. The English translation variations other than “Mid Autumn Festival” are “The Mid Autumn Moon Festival, ” … As the Chinese have spread out across the globe, one needn't be in China to partake in the Moon Festival. The story of the Mid-Autumn Festival There are many folktales surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival. There she stayed with a white rabbit as her only companion. On Mid-Autumn Festival, the full Moon night of the eighth lunar month, an open-air altar is set up facing the Moon for the worship of Chang'e. Also known as Mid-Autumn Festival or Harvest Festival, traditionally it was a time when families would come together for a meal and enjoy some moon cakes. Moon Festival which is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival is a wonderful day of family celebration in Taiwan. reading time: 5 min 10 sec. But while Hou Yi was resting, Chang’e took a look at the elixir. Legend traces the story to a hero named Hou Yi, who lived during a time when there were 10 suns in the sky. In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, it grew to be a major festival. See more ideas about moon festival, festival, moon. However, it came with a warning. The new moon day is the first day of a Chinese Lunar Month. There are quite a few stories associated with Moon Festival, but perhaps the most popular is the legend of Chang’e. She couldn’t return to Earth either, and so her only option was the moon. In 2020, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 1st October, which is the same day as Chinese National Day. Chang E Flying to the Moon is the most widely told Mid … She grew lighter and lighter and felt herself floating into the sky, but little did she know that as a banished immortal the gates of Heaven were locked to her. The Jade Rabbit is a continuation of the Chang’e and Hou Yi folklore which gives a background look at the afterlife of the couple. Moon Festival is held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar which usually falls around September or possibly even early October on the regular calendar. Walk up to the summit of Mother's Hill between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm to find the innkeeper all alone. It's one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese. The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the “ Moon Festival ” as it is observed during a bright, full moon. There is an abundance of magical legends about the Mid-Autumn Festival. Fortunately, Hou Yi recalled that a Queen on Earth had the elixir of immortality and so he left on a long journey hoping to find her. The story not only highlights the theme of family reunion during the Moon Festival, but also of making prayers to the Moon Goddess. The Mid Autumn Festival is one of the four major Chinese festivals and its official name in Chinese is “Zhōng qiū jié” 中秋節 | 中秋节. Meanwhile back on Earth, Hou Yi was distraught and spent the rest of his days as a lonely mortal man. by Jillian Lin This is a fairly new book published in 2017, about two children Jack and Mei comparing two important celebrations: the Easter and the Moon Festival. Upon this occasion, the legends of the festival are often told to the children. However, there are four popular tales that have withstood the test of time and become the most well-known legends of the celebration. After living as immortals for so long, the couple found life on Earth extremely hard and during their time there, they wished for one thing only; the chance to return to Heaven. This caused people to die, so Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns and was given an elixir by the Queen of Heaven to make him immortal. This modern day tradition is thanks to an old TV commercial by a barbecue sauce company and is completely unrelated to the legends of the festival. Love Story of Chang'E and Hou Yi. Here is a popular version among Chinese children: A long time ago in China, there were ten suns in the sky. Now older generation Taiwanese encourage young children to make hats with the skin of a pomelo in the hope that Chang’e (it was her favorite food) will look down on them and bless them. The Emperor of Heaven summoned Hou Yi to shoot down nine of the suns. The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Mooncake Festival, is the second-most-important festival in China, after the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). This day is the only day of the year that you won't find Dudley somewhere inside his inn. These days, although families still get together, it’s more popular to sit outside and enjoy a barbecue. The temptation to become immortal and ascend to heaven was too great, and she drank all of the potion. The Legend of Chang E . Legends of the Moon Festival. But there’s more to this holiday than the current fad of barbecues by moonlight. One day a student of Hou Yi tried to steal the elixir from her, and Chang'e drank it to foil his plans. See more ideas about Autumn moon festival, Moon festival, Books. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar calendar. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. It’s a time when families come together to enjoy a meal and, as you might have guessed, enjoy a spot of moon watching. The jade rabbit is also a widespread … There are up to six versions of the legends behind the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Easter Or Moon Festival: Which Is Better? Traditionally, lovers spent romantic nights at the event tasting delicious moon cake and drinking wine while watching the full moon. The recently rediscovered divination text Guicang contains the story of Chang'e as a story providing the meaning to Hexagram 54 of the I Ching, "Returning Maiden". Est. This isn't a festival, but it is an annual event that occurs on Autumn 5. Hou Yi succeeded, the … There are quite a few stories associated with Moon Festival, but perhaps the most popular is the legend of Chang’e. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. After overcoming many obstacles, he finally came to her palace. 中秋节 is a centuries-old Asian celebration about the full moon and coming harvest. Because the first day of the 8th lunar month is September 7, 2021 , therefore, the Chinese Moon Festival is on September 21, 2021 in China's time zone. As Taiwan is a region steeped in tradition, it should come as no surprise that the Moon Festival has its fair share of customs, both old and new. This harvest festival is one of the most popular events of the year. Our best-known tale is about a man named Cuội who hung on to a magical banyan tree as it floated up to the moon. It is the ​traditional food consumed during the Moon Festival. Blog; Company News; Event News; Chinese culture is steeped in intricacies and wonderful tales, and with a 4000-year history, there are bound to be some stories that are more memorable than others. She's presented with a variety of food offerings during the Moon Fest, and festival-goers swear that they can spot Chang'e dancing on the moon during the festival. Chinese Moon Festival - a story of love, hard work, and self-sacrifice. Unlike Chinese legend, the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is totally different. Afterward, ​she flew to the moon, and people have prayed to her for fortune ever since. Similar traditions are found in other parts of Asia and also revolve around the full moon. Legend traces the story to a hero named Hou Yi, who lived during a time when there were 10 suns in the sky.