Chang'e Flies to the Moon

Chang’e Flies to the Moon

A Chinese Legend

Chang’e was very much alone. She herself had witnessed the unfortunate effects of magnificent deeds through her husband, who now roamed the palace with his head held high as he became increasingly demeaning towards his servants and subjects. He had even grown above his association with her, and she sensed an imminent danger that would soon strike if he continued to behave this way. But since his allegiance changed from her to himself, the koi pond was less enthralling, the sun was less comforting, and the palace seemed cramped and enclosed.

Her husband was praised by the gods for his brave contribution to the mere mortals by shooting down nine of the ten sun gods, leaving one to warm the earth as the other nine had boiled the oceans and scorched even the most fertile of forests. His ego bloated into that of a pompous, conceited king, and he proceeded to put all beneath him. As a gift, he was presented with an elixir of immortality. Chang’e trembled at the effect of immortality would have on her husband- divine praise had already proved to be dangerous.

That evening, the night of the full moon, Chang’e bid goodbye to the koi ponds and stole the elixir from its ivory box at the dead of night. She knew of her husband’s anger, and floated towards the moon where she would seek refuge from the Celestial Hare. As her dress billowed through the sky, she heard a mighty roar from earth as her husband attempted to pursue her. The Celestial Hare, looking fondly upon Chang’e, protected her on her journey to the moon, and welcomed her to his palace on the moon. Chang’e had saved the people of earth from a raving, conceited deity.