Is the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival in the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon?

The Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and prevailed in the Song Dynasty. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it had become one of the traditional festivals in China, which was as famous as the Spring Festival. One of the origins of Mid-Autumn Festival is the story of the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon. Come and have a look with me ~

The Origin of Mid-Autumn Festival-the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon

In ancient times, there were ten days in the sky at the same time, crops withered and people were miserable. A hero named Hou Yi has infinite power. He sympathized with the suffering people, drew his bow, shot down more than nine suns in one breath, and ordered the last sun to rise and set on time for the benefit of the people.

Hou Yi's wife is called Chang 'e, and she spends all her time with her except hunting. Many people with lofty ideals came here to study as teachers, and Meng Peng with ulterior motives joined in.

One day, Hou Yi visited a friend in Kunlun Mountain and asked the Queen Mother for a bag of elixir. It is said that taking this medicine can instantly ascend to heaven and become immortal. However, Hou Yi was reluctant to leave his wife and temporarily handed over the elixir to Chang 'e for collection.

Chang 'e hid the medicine in the treasure chest of the dresser. Three days later, Hou Yi led his entourage out hunting, while Meng Peng pretended to be ill and didn't go out. Shortly after Hou Yi led the crowd to leave, Meng Peng broke into the backyard of the back room with a sword and threatened Chang 'e to hand over the elixir.

Chang 'e knew that she was no match for Meng Peng. In a crisis, she turned to open the treasure box, took out the elixir and swallowed it in one gulp. Chang 'e swallowed the medicine and immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window and flew into the sky.

Because Chang 'e was worried about her husband, she flew to the nearest moon and became a fairy.

In the evening, when Hou Yi came home, the maids cried and told what happened during the day.

Hou Yi was surprised and angry, and drew his sword to kill the villain. Meng Peng has escaped. Hou Yi was so angry that his heart was broken. He looked up at the night sky and called for Chang 'e. At this time, he found that today's moon was exceptionally bright, and a swaying figure resembled Chang 'e.

When Hou Yi missed his wife, he sent someone to Chang 'e's favorite back garden, set a table of incense, put on Chang 'e's favorite honey and fresh fruit, and offered a remote sacrifice to Chang 'e in the moon palace.

After hearing the news that the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon became an immortal, people made an incense table under the moon and prayed for good luck and peace to the kind Chang 'e.

Since then, the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival in Yue Bai has spread among the people.

Mid-autumn festival custom

First of all, enjoy the moon, Yue Bai.

Folk Mid-Autumn Festival activities began in Wei and Jin Dynasties. After that, every Mid-Autumn Festival, fruits will be placed to enjoy the moon, and wine will be sent to invite the moon to celebrate a better life. In addition, many places in our country have the custom of offering sacrifices to the moon and Yue Bai. In the Book of Rites, there is a record of "autumn twilight and the moon", that is, to worship the moon god and hope for the bright moon in the future.

Second, eat moon cakes.

Moon cakes were originally a kind of offering to the moon, and later became gifts given by the people. Nowadays, eating moon cakes in Mid-Autumn Festival has become a necessary item for many people, which means reunion.

Third, watch the tide.

Besides enjoying the moon, watching the tide is another activity of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The custom of watching tide in Mid-Autumn Festival has a long history, which is described in detail in Mei Cheng's famous poem Qi Fa in Han Dynasty. After the Han Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival became more popular. Su Shi wrote "Watching the Tide on August 15th" and said: "I know that the Jade Rabbit is round, and it has been frosted in September. Send a message to close the door and close the key, and the night tide stays in the moon. "