Episode 5: The Legend of 10 suns and 12 moons | Chinese mythology Explained

Summary

In ancient Chinese mythology, the Heavenly Emperor De Jun, with a monkey's body and a bird's head, had ten sun sons and twelve moon daughters. The Sun Goddess She Her managed her ten sun sons, who took the form of three-legged crows, bringing warmth and light to the Earth. The Moon Goddess Chang Shi, after a year of pregnancy, gave birth to twelve moons, who illuminated the night sky in rotation. These celestial bodies represented the cycle of day and night, symbolizing the matriarchal society's reverence for maternal love and sacrifice.

Takeaways

• 🐒 The Heavenly Emperor De Jun is depicted with a unique appearance, having the body of a monkey, the head of a bird, two horns, a single leg, and a hunched back.
• 🌞 De Jun's ten sons symbolize the sun, taking the form of three-legged golden crows that bring warmth and light to the Earth.
• 🌛 The Moon Goddess Chang'shi, one of De Jun's wives, gave birth to 12 daughters representing the 12 moons.
• 🌅 The Sun Goddess She Her, another wife of De Jun, lives beyond the Eastern Sea and manages her ten sons' routine, ensuring the cycle of day and night.
• 🌄 The ten suns take turns rising, each responsible for a day, providing light and warmth, and are rejuvenated in a warm spring by She Her.
• 🌳 The Fusang tree, a mythical tree, is said to be the bathing and resting place for the ten suns after their daily duties.
• 🌜 The 12 moons, daughters of Chang'shi, noticed the darkness when the suns set and proposed to light the night to bring illumination.
• 🌙 The 12 moons take turns lighting the night sky, each responsible for a month, forming the 12 months of the year.
• 🌌 The absence of the moon in the sky for a few days each month symbolizes the rest period of the moons.
• 🌟 The script highlights the ancient Chinese reverence for the sun and moon, as well as the matriarchal figures of She Her and Chang'shi, who embody maternal love and sacrifice.

Q & A

Who is the Heavenly Emperor De Jun and what does he represent?

The Heavenly Emperor De Jun is a figure from ancient Chinese mythology who is said to have the body of a monkey, the head of a bird, two horns on his head, a single leg, and a hunched back. He represents a divine entity associated with the sun and is considered the father of the ten suns and twelve moons.

What are the characteristics of the Sun Goddess She Her and her sons?

The Sun Goddess She Her is described as living beyond the Eastern Sea and is the mother of ten sons who embody the sun. Her sons take the form of three-legged golden crows, emitting a scorching temperature and a dazzling aura. They take turns rising to bring warmth and light to the Earth.

How does the daily routine of She Her's sons affect the lives of people on Earth?

The daily routine of She Her's sons, the ten suns, allows people to work at sunrise and rest at sunset, creating a harmonious and joyful lifestyle where humans and animals coexist peacefully.

What is the significance of the fusang tree in the myth?

The fusang tree is significant in the myth as it is where the ten suns bathe and rejuvenate after immersing themselves in the spring. The tree is described as enormous and is associated with the process of renewal and the cycle of the suns.

Who is the Moon Goddess Changshi and what is her role in the myth?

The Moon Goddess Changshi is the mother of the twelve moons and is responsible for giving birth to them. She addresses the endless darkness on Earth by allowing her daughters to provide gentle illumination during the night.

How do the twelve moons contribute to the night sky according to the legend?

The twelve moons take turns illuminating the night sky, each moon representing a month, thus forming the 12 months of a year. They bring a soft glow to the nocturnal world, ensuring that there is always some light during the night.

What is the symbolic meaning of the twelve moons taking a few days of rest each month?

The symbolic meaning of the twelve moons taking a few days of rest each month is to represent the feminine aspect of the lunar cycle, where the moon does not appear in the night sky during those days, reflecting the natural cycle of the moon's phases.

How do the folk tales about the moon describe the relationship between Changshi and her daughters?

Folk tales about the moon depict Changshi as deeply loving her daughters and personally bathing them, which symbolizes the depth and grandeur of maternal love.

What does the contrast between She Her and Changshi represent in terms of maternal roles in ancient Chinese society?

The contrast between She Her and Changshi represents the dual aspects of maternal roles in ancient Chinese society. She Her, as the mother of the sun, embodies selflessness and sacrifice, bringing light and warmth daily, while Changshi, as the mother of the moons, guards her daughters and sprinkles moonlight over the world, symbolizing the depth of maternal love.

How are the images of She Her and Changshi revered in ancient Chinese culture?

The images of She Her and Changshi are particularly revered in ancient Chinese culture as they reflect the matriarchal nature of society at the time and capture the profound feelings and understanding of the sun, moon, and maternal love.

What is the significance of the physical description of De Jun in the myth?

The physical description of De Jun, with a mix of animal and human features, signifies his divine and supernatural status. It also reflects the rich imagination and symbolism in ancient Chinese mythology, where such descriptions often carry deeper meanings related to the character's attributes or powers.