Chang E Ascending to the Moon


Read my books:
Book cover for Tibetan Folktales
Princess Peacock book cover
The Magic Lotus Lantern book cover
Book cover: This Is China: The First 5,000 Years
Berkshire Encyclopedia of China book cover
Chinese New Year book cover
Chang E and the rabbit in an art rendition

Once upon a time, a young archer named Yi managed to shoot nine of the ten suns. An immortal gave him a pouch of pills of eternity as a token of gratitude on behalf of the people he had saved. With the pills, he could become an immortal himself and be able to ascend to heaven.

Yi had a beautiful wife named Chang E. He never left her alone except when he went on hunting expeditions. Each time before he left, he would entrust the eternity pills with Chang E. On a fifth day of the eighth day, Yi led his men on a hunting trip again. A vicious aid to Yi tried to take the pills from Chang E. Chang E swallowed the pills up in the scuffle and as result flew to the moon....

Chuáng qián míng yuèguāng,
Yí shì dì shàng shuāng,
Jǔ tóu wàng míng yuè,
Dī tóu sī gù xiāng.

From bed I spotted frost on the floor,
It was moonlight that I actually saw.
Looking up I gazed into the moon,
My head hanged, as homesick I became.
by Li Bai (701~762)

Míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu? Bǎ jiǔ wèn qīng tiān.
Bù zhī tiānshàng gōngquè, jīnxī shì hé nián.
Wǒ yù chèng fēng guī qù, yòu kǒng qiónglóu yùyǔ, gāo chù bú shèng hán.
Qǐ wǔ nòng qīng yǐng, hé sì zài rénjiān.

Zhuǎn zhū gě, dī qǐ hù, zhào wú mián.
Bù yīng yǒu hèn, hé shì cháng xiàng bié shí yuán?
Rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé, yuè yǒu yīn qíng yuán quē, cǐ shì gǔ nán quán.
Dànyuàn rén chángjiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng Chánjuān.

When will the full moon appear, I ask the sky with wine cup in my hand,
Wondering what year is this evening up in the lunar palace?
I meant to be back there riding on the wind, but feared I could not stand the frigidity of the beautiful sanctuary high above.
Accompanied with my shadow I dance; who wouldn't say I am not in heaven.

Moonlight swept the red pavilion, flooded into the decorated windows beneath and shone upon this sleepless soul.
Without mortal sentiment, why do you reveal your full face only when people part?
Well, happy reunions and sad departures are as common as the changes of its phases - a fact beyond human control since ancient times.
May we were safe and sound year after year and be able to share the moon though a thousand miles apart.

by Su Shi (1037-1101)


Text of the story and translation of the poems by Haiwang Yuan, © copyright 2003
Last update: September 24, 2003

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