Chang'e and the Elixir of Immortality

The Ten Suns Long ago, there were ten suns that rose in the sky together, scorching the earth and withering the crops. The people were starving. A brave and talented archer named Hou Yi saved humanity by shooting down nine of the ten suns with his magical bow, leaving only one to light the world. As a reward for his heroism, the Queen Mother of the West gave him a bottle of the Elixir of Immortality. If one person drank it, they would float to the heavens and become a god. Hou Yi, however, did not want to leave his beautiful wife, Chang'e, so he gave her the elixir to keep safe.

The Choice of the Moon One day, while Hou Yi was out hunting, an apprentice named Peng Meng broke into their home to steal the elixir. To prevent the villain from gaining eternal life, Chang'e drank the potion herself. Immediately, she became light and began to float out of the window toward the sky. Out of love for her husband, she chose to stay as close to earth as possible, landing on the Moon. When Hou Yi returned and saw what had happened, he was heartbroken. He placed her favorite fruits and cakes in the garden every night, looking up at the moon to catch a glimpse of his wife's shadow. This sacrifice is celebrated every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival.