The truth about Chang'e flying to the moon

 

The truth about Chang'e flying to the moon

 

Chang'e secretly ate the elixir of longevity brought by her husband Hou Yi from the Queen Mother of the West, and after ascending to heaven, she lived alone in the Guanghan Palace on the moon. Earning more than what you asked for, stealing the elixir of immortality and abandoning your husband and home are always dishonorable things. In the eyes of ancient Chinese, toads are also recognized as ugly. Therefore, the people gave Chang'e a tragic ending. Because she stole the elixir of immortality, she was punished by the Queen Mother of the West and made her pound the elixir in the middle of the moon every night. In the Han Dynasty sarcophagus portrait unearthed from Shapingba, Chongqing, there is a snake-shaped man holding a moon wheel in his hand, followed by a toad standing on two legs, holding a pestle to pound medicine. Legend has it that Chang'e turned into a toad and pounded medicine in the middle of the moon. This is a moral condemnation. The beautiful woman turned into a toad. Compared with the results of divination, it is indeed a kind of irony. But this is a story about Chang'e that modern people may not know, because history can be tampered with, myths can also be made up, and fabricators redress the evil woman as a beauty.

After talking about the Guanghan Palace incident to the carriage driver A Zhuo, Agudengba sighed:

Strangely enough, the moon seems to look better during the Mid-Autumn Festival than usual. Therefore, admiring the moon has been a prescribed action of the Mid-Autumn Festival since ancient times.

According to research, the Mid-Autumn Moon Appreciation activity began in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. There are many poems about the moon in "Three Hundred Tang Poems", such as "Raise your head to look at the bright moon, bow your head to miss your hometown" that a three-year-old child can memorize. etc. Most of the moon-appreciation poems of the Tang Dynasty were sentimental and sentimental, often using clouds and clear circles as metaphors for human relationships, and there was always a trace of sadness and desolation between the lines.

For the Chinese people in the Song Dynasty, the meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival was completely different. During the Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival had become an important folk festival, and it was a festival full of joy.

As we all know, there was no curfew system in the Song Dynasty, and the night-time economy was very developed. In the city, there are many entertainment venues such as hotels, bars, discos, KTVs, and nightclubs. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are many customers, and the whole country is immersed in the joy of the festival, all night long. According to "Tokyo Menghualu": "Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, all shops sell new wine, noble families decorate their pavilions, and private families compete for restaurants to play in the moonlight. Shengs and songs are heard from thousands of miles away, and they sit and play until dawn." Just like now, the night is colorful. , the bright moon is in the sky, the orioles are singing and the swallows are dancing, and the world is prosperous.

However, while people were changing cups and drinking wine, did anyone ever think about the girl Chang'e in Guanghan Palace? Is she okay in Guanghan Palace?

Agudengba said to the coachman Azhuo: In addition to this legend, there are also various folk versions circulating in society.

For example, some people say that Chang'e impulsively married into the human world. Later, she felt regret when she saw the poor life of the people, so she secretly took Hou Yi's elixir, abandoned her husband and son, and became an immortal alone. Liu An, the king of Huainan in the Western Han Dynasty, made it very clear in "Huainanzi·Lan Mingxun": "Yi asked the Queen Mother of the West for the elixir of immortality, and Chang'e stole it and flew to the moon." This is the version of throwing her husband and swallowing it all.

Others say that after Hou Yi became famous by shooting the sun, his pride swelled and his life gradually deteriorated. He maintained improper relationships with many young women. In the end, he actually got together with the wife of He Bo, the god of water in the Yellow River, and was caught and raped in bed by Chang'e. Chang'e was so angry that she took the elixir and flew away. This matter is recorded in Qu Yuan's "Tianwen": "Hu Shefu He Bo, and his wife is Luo's concubine?" This is the version of Hou Yi's infidelity.

In short, there is anything to say. Anyway, there is no truth to the story of Chang'e flying to the moon. The story was originally made up. Hu also made up the story of Hou Yi shooting the sun.

According to legend, a long time ago, 10 suns appeared in the sky, competing to emit fiery light regardless of day or night. The heat wave rolled around the world, everything withered, and the people were miserable. Finally, a young man named Hou Yi was annoyed. He threw away his fan, stretched his bow and arrow, and shot down 9 suns in one go, leaving only one that was rounder. From then on, the temperature returned to normal, the sun rose and the moon set, in order, the four seasons in the world were distinct, and the weather was smooth.

Hou Yi's feat of shooting the sun was supported by all the people. In addition, he was young, handsome and unmarried, so he had countless fans. He was recognized as a popular idol at the time and a national husband. There was an endless stream of people coming to propose marriage every day.

Agudengba smiled and said to the coachman Azhuo:

At that time, the Jade Emperor had a daughter named Chang'e, who was described as graceful and charming. She fell in love with Hou Yi at first sight, secretly descended to earth, and married Hou Yi. The two lived happily together. Everything has gains and losses. For love, Chang'e also paid a huge price. She lost her identity as a fairy and became a mortal.

Chang'e eloped to the mortal world and made the Queen Mother of the West very angry. Is it easy to be a god? After thousands of years of cultivation, you just don't want it anymore? Are you worthy of the training I have given you over the years?

The Jade Emperor is determined to help his daughter return to the fairy world, but the heavenly palace has strict rules. How can he come and leave as he pleases? As the top leader, I should set an example and set an example, and I should never use my power to seek personal gain for my relatives and children, right?

So, the Queen Mother of the West thought of a way, saying that talents like Hou Yi should be absorbed into our heavenly team, and instructed the relevant departments to award Hou Yi the honorary title of Sun Shooting Hero, and as a reward, give Hou Yi an elixir. At the award ceremony, the Queen Mother of the West held Hou Yi's hand and said sincerely: "I give this elixir to you on behalf of the Heavenly Palace. If one of you eats it, you can ascend to heaven and become an immortal. If two people eat it separately, they can both live forever." . But you don’t need me to teach you who to feed, right?"

Hou Yi understood this and turned home to hand the elixir to his wife Chang'e: "This is the elixir your mother gave you."

Chang'e was very moved and said: Although the living conditions in the world are difficult, how can I bear to leave my husband and become an immortal alone? Why don't you store it with me for now, and wait for a chance to get another one? When the time comes, we can ascend to heaven together. .

Hou Yi said yes. But unexpectedly, due to long nights and many dreams, Hou Yi set up an archery training class in the human world. There was a student in the class named Peng Meng who had coveted Chang'e's beauty for a long time. Taking advantage of Hou Yi's business trip, he wanted to molest Chang'e. ​

Chang'e angrily cursed: You are a beast, you won't even spare your master's wife, are you still a human being? ! Chang'e had nowhere to hide, so she swallowed the elixir in one gulp and ascended to heaven. Because Chang'e was worried about Hou Yi, she temporarily stayed in the Guanghan Palace on the moon. Unexpectedly, she would stay here for a lifetime.

Agudemba laughed and said:

What I just said is the official version of the incident of Chang'e flying to the moon. The official attitude was initially as if nothing had happened, trying to cover it up and desperately deleting posts. Later, when it became clear that the matter could no longer be concealed, they had no choice but to admit it. However, they were vague and unclear about the ins and outs of the matter, and there was never a clear explanation. Officials are unwilling to admit that Chang'e was at fault, as this would tarnish China's reputation. Therefore, Chang'e was redecorated.

Generally speaking, if you want to cover up something, the more secretive it is, the easier it is for rumors to spread. Although the official later announced a forced version, the public was no longer willing to believe it.

Everyone is questioning: After Chang'e became an immortal, why didn't she go to heaven to report or go to her mother, the Queen Mother of the West, but instead ran to the moon alone? A little fairy who made a mistake, how could she occupy such a large palace by herself when the office area of the Tiangong is strictly controlled? What kind of family background does Chang'e have? Who arranged for her to live in the Moon Palace? Does the Jade Emperor know about this? There was a storm in the city for a while, and it was hard for the officials to defend themselves.

Agudengba laughed again and said:

Fortunately, this kind of social focus comes and goes as quickly as it comes. The incident of Chang'e flying to the moon was quickly replaced by new hot topics. As time goes by, it slowly fades out of people's sight. Even if someone mentions it again, everyone His attitude also gradually changed. Out of his instinct of pity and cherishment, he turned from doubt to sympathy. Yes, who can guarantee that he will not make mistakes in his life? Young man, if you make some mistakes and change them, you will be a good comrade. A girl is lonely in the moon palace. I heard that there is no one above, only a rabbit and a toad. My companion, how pitiful you are.

Li Bai also deeply sympathized with this and wrote a poem to sigh: "The white rabbit is pounding medicine, autumn returns to spring, who is Chang'e living alone next to?"

Li Shangyin said: Yes, yes. She wrote two poems in succession: "Chang'e should regret stealing the elixir, and her heart will be broken every night because of the blue sea and blue sky." "The rabbit is cold and the toad is cold and the osmanthus is white, and Chang'e should have her heart broken this night."

Agudengba sang "Ode to Chang'e" in a mocking tone:

 

Don't listen to rumors,

Rumors mislead the country and harm the people.

Attack Chang'e to steal medicine,

It is to frame and insult God.

Chang'e is the second generation of gods.

With the blood of God.

Hereditary inheritance in heaven,

Genes determine destiny.

Chang'e flew to the moon for a pioneering feat,

This is unprecedented.

Chang'e is the one in the dream,

Flying to the moon is the Chinese dream.

To rectify Chang'e's name,

Return to the moon to fulfill your dream.