The Origin of the Moon Goddess
Once upon a time, during the mythical past of ancient China, there lived a beautiful woman named Chang'e. She was married to the skilled archer Hou Yi, a hero who saved the earth by shooting down nine of the ten suns that scorched the earth, bringing back peace and prosperity.
This noble act earned Hou Yi an elixir of immortality, a powerful potion gifted by the Queen Mother of the West. However, Hou Yi didn't want to live forever without his beloved Chang'e, so he entrusted her with the elixir for safekeeping.
The Ascent to the Moon
One day, when Hou Yi was out hunting, a wicked apprentice attempted to steal the potion. In a moment of desperation, Chang'e decided to drink the elixir herself. Instantly, she began to float, soaring high into the sky. As she ascended, she waved goodbye to Hou Yi, tears of sadness and love blending in the far-reaching winds.
Chang'e's ascent finally stopped when she reached the moon. There, she resides eternally, becoming the Moon Goddess. Her only companion is a gentle jade rabbit, forever pounding the elixir under a laurel tree.