Chinese Fables

Hou Yi Shot Down the Suns There were ten suns in the sky, it’s too hot to live. Hou Yi decided to save the people. He took out his bow, went up to the peak and shot down nine suns one by one. Hou Yi was respected by people as a hero. A lot of young men went to learn shooting from him.

Chang Er flying to the moon Hou Yi married Chang Er and lived happily together. One day, Hou Yi met the Heavenly Empress. Hou Yi wanted to be with his wife forever so he asked for some elixir. People who took it can fly to the heaven immediately. The Heavenly Empress was moved and gave him one. Hou Yi did not want to leave his wife so he gave the elixir to Chang Er to keep. She carefully stored it in a wooden box. Feng Meng saw it. Chang Er flying to the moon

Feng Meng took his glitter sword Feng Meng took his glitter sword. He threatened Chang Er to give him the elixir. Chang Er swallowed the elixir herself. Soon Chang Er flew from her house and landed on the moon. When Hou Yi returned home, he was very angry. But Feng Meng had fled away. Chang Er has lived on the moon since ever and does not forget Hou Yi.

The Legend of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid Qixi Festival The Cowherd was an orphan. One day the Weaving Maid and her maidens came down to earth to play. They fell in love. Later, the Weaving Maid became the Cowherd’s wife. They lived happily together. The man spent his time farming while the lady spent her time weaving.

The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were angry The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were angry. The Queen Mother came down to earth and caught the Weaving Girl back to heaven. When the Cowherd returned home and found that his wife was missing, he brought his children across the skies on a cloud to look for the Weaving Girl. At last, they were allowed to see each other once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Every year on this day, magpies will fly up to the heavens and build a magpie bridge for them to cross over and meet each other.