Mid Autumn Festival story and how Chinese celebrate it

chinahighlights

5 Sept 201902:43

Summary

TLDRThe legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival revolves around the tale of Chong and her husband Howie, who saved the world from scorching heat by shooting down nine suns. Rewarded with an elixir of immortality, Chong consumed it to protect it from thieves, becoming the Moon Goddess. The festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is celebrated with family feasts, moon gazing, and eating moon cakes, symbolizing unity and remembrance. It has evolved into a harvest festival akin to Thanksgiving, with lantern shows and prayers for happiness.

Takeaways

🌞 The legend of Chong and Howie involves ten suns causing unbearable heat on Earth.
🏹 Howie, a skilled archer, shot down nine suns to save the Earth from scorching heat, becoming a national hero.
💊 As a reward, Howie received an elixir of immortality, but it was only enough for one person.
🌕 To protect the elixir from thieves, Chong consumed it and ascended to the moon, becoming the Moon Goddess.
🌙 Howie mourned his wife by offering to the moon and looking for her silhouette on its surface.
🥮 The Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by eating moon-shaped desserts called moon cakes.
🌕 The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Moon Festival and is associated with moon worship.
🍽️ This festival has evolved into a family holiday akin to Thanksgiving, celebrated with large family dinners.
🎑 The festival includes activities like viewing the moon, exchanging gifts, and attending lantern shows.
🏮 People also fly lanterns during the festival to pray for happiness and prosperity for themselves and their families.
🔎 For more information about the Mid-Autumn Festival, one can search 'China highlights Mid-Autumn Festival'.

Q & A

Who is the main female character in the legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival?
-The main female character in the legend is Chong, also known as Chang'e.
What was Howie's profession in the legend?
-Howie was a brilliant archer in the legend.
Why were the people on earth suffering in the legend?
-The people on earth were suffering due to the blistering heat caused by ten suns in the sky.
How many suns did Howie shoot down with his bow and arrow according to the legend?
-Howie shot down nine of the ten suns to save the earth from the intense heat.
What did Howie receive as a reward for his heroic act?
-Howie received an elixir of immortality as a reward for saving the people from the heat of multiple suns.
Why did Chong consume the elixir of immortality?
-Chong consumed the elixir of immortality to protect it from thieves and ended up flying to the moon.
What title did Chong receive after consuming the elixir and flying to the moon?
-Chong became known as the Moon Goddess after consuming the elixir and flying to the moon.
How did Howie remember and honor his wife Chong after she became the Moon Goddess?
-Howie made an offering to the moon and tried to find the shape of Chong on the moon to remember her.
What is the significance of moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival?
-Moon cakes are moon-shaped desserts that Chinese people eat to worship the moon and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
What activities are commonly associated with the modern celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival?
-Modern celebrations of the Mid-Autumn Festival include having a large family dinner, viewing the moon, exchanging gifts, traveling, viewing lantern shows, and flying lanterns to pray for happiness.
How is the Mid-Autumn Festival related to the harvest?
-The Mid-Autumn Festival is also a harvest festival, which is a time to celebrate the fruits of the harvest and share them with family and friends.

Outlines

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🌕 Legend of the Moon Goddess

The script narrates the ancient legend of Chong-Er, a beautiful woman whose husband, Hou Yi, was a skilled archer. In a time when ten suns tormented the earth with unbearable heat, Hou Yi heroically shot down nine, earning him the title of national hero and a reward—an elixir of immortality. The elixir, however, was only sufficient for one person, leading to a dilemma for Chong-Er and Hou Yi. In a twist of fate, to protect the elixir from a thief, Chong-Er consumed it and ascended to the moon, becoming the Moon Goddess. This tale is the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when the Chinese pay homage to the moon and remember Chong-Er.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chong

Chong, also known as Chang'e, is a legendary figure in Chinese mythology. She is depicted as a beautiful woman who becomes the Moon Goddess. In the video script, Chong is the wife of Hou Yi, and her story forms the basis of the Mid-Autumn Festival legend. The narrative explains how she ascended to the moon after consuming an elixir of immortality to protect it from thieves, leaving her husband behind on earth.

💡Hou Yi

Hou Yi is a legendary archer in ancient Chinese mythology. He is renowned for shooting down nine of the ten suns that were scorching the earth. In the script, Hou Yi is Chong's husband, who is left behind on earth after she becomes the Moon Goddess. His longing for Chong is a central theme in the legend and is depicted through his offerings to the moon.

💡Ten Suns

The concept of 'ten suns' in the script refers to a mythical time when ten suns were in the sky, causing unbearable heat on earth. This is a critical element in the legend, as it explains why Hou Yi had to shoot down nine of the suns to save the people. The remaining sun symbolizes the balance and order restored by Hou Yi's actions.

💡Elixir of Immortality

The 'elixir of immortality' is a magical substance in the script that grants eternal life. It is given to Hou Yi as a reward for his heroic act of saving the earth from the heat of the ten suns. The elixir plays a pivotal role in the narrative, as it leads to Chong's decision to ascend to the moon to protect it from thieves.

💡Moon Goddess

The 'Moon Goddess' is a title given to Chong in the script after she consumes the elixir of immortality and flies to the moon. This transformation is central to the legend and the Mid-Autumn Festival. As the Moon Goddess, Chong is revered and associated with the moon, which is a significant symbol in Chinese culture.

💡Mid-Autumn Festival

The 'Mid-Autumn Festival' is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is also known as the Moon Festival. The script explains that this festival originated from the legend of Chong and Hou Yi. It is a time for family reunions, moon gazing, and the consumption of moon cakes, symbolizing unity and harmony.

💡Moon Cakes

Moon cakes are traditional Chinese pastries eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. As mentioned in the script, they are moon-shaped desserts that symbolize the full moon and are associated with the legend of Chong. The consumption of moon cakes is a significant part of the festival's celebrations, reflecting the cultural importance of the moon in Chinese tradition.

💡Harvest Festival

The 'harvest festival' aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as described in the script, highlights its significance as a time to celebrate the end of the harvest season. This connection to agriculture and nature is integral to the festival's origins and its continued observance, emphasizing the importance of community and gratitude.

💡Family Holiday

The script describes the Mid-Autumn Festival as a 'family holiday,' similar to Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a time for families to gather and celebrate together. This aspect of the festival underscores the importance of family bonds and communal celebration in Chinese culture.

💡Lantern Shows

Lantern shows are a popular activity during the Mid-Autumn Festival, as mentioned in the script. They involve the display of various lanterns, often in public spaces, and are a visual spectacle that adds to the festive atmosphere. Lanterns symbolize light and hope, aligning with the themes of illumination and joy associated with the festival.

💡Flying Lanterns

Flying lanterns, or sky lanterns, are a part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations as described in the script. These are lanterns that are released into the sky, symbolizing wishes and prayers. They are a visual representation of the festival's themes of hope, dreams, and the connection between heaven and earth.

Highlights

The legend of Chong, a beautiful woman, and her husband Howie.

Ten suns in the sky causing unbearable heat on earth.

Howie, a brilliant archer, shoots down nine suns to save the earth.

Howie is respected as a national hero for his heroic act.

Howie receives an elixir of immortality as a reward.

The elixir is only enough for one person, creating a dilemma for Chong and Howie.

Chong takes the elixir to protect it from thieves and flies to the moon.

Chong becomes the moon goddess, leaving her husband behind.

Howie misses his wife and makes offerings to the moon.

Chinese people worship the moon by eating fruit and moon-shaped desserts called moon cakes.

The legend is the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has evolved into a family holiday like Thanksgiving.

Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a large dinner and moon viewing.

Gifts and lantern shows are part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

Eating various desserts and flying lanterns are traditional activities during the festival.

The festival is a time to pray for happiness and the well-being of families.

China Highlights provides more information on the Mid-Autumn Festival.