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See also: Pangu and the creation of the world 214–15 ■ The adventures of the Monkey King 218–19 ■ The legend of the
five suns 248–55ASIA
shot down the suns until just one
remained. Yao told Yi to spare this
last sun, as the people still needed
its heat and light. For this action,
which saved humanity and restored
order to the world, Yao was given
the title “Son of Heaven.” He is
revered in Chinese legends as a
wise and judicious sovereign.Tragic existence
Yi had arrived on Earth with his
wife, Chang’e, and apprentice,
Fengmeng. As a reward for
shooting the sun birds, the Chinesegoddess Xiwangmu gave Yi an
elixir of immortality, but it proved
to be his undoing. Yi, who was a
mortal, did not want to imbibe the
elixir because he could not bear to
be separated from his wife.
One day, Fengmeng, who was
jealous of his master’s skill and
fame, broke into Yi’s house while
the archer was out hunting.
Fengmeng demanded the elixir
from Chang’e. Rather than give it to
him, she drank it herself. Now
immortal, she flew to the nearest
celestial body, the moon, so she
could remain close to her husband.
When Yi found that his wife was
gone, he set up an altar to her and
laid out her favorite foods as an
offering to her; he did this every
year to mark the day she had left.
Yi’s life came to an end when
treacherous Fengmeng beat him to
death with a branch from a peach
tree so that he himself could be
the greatest archer on Earth. After
his death, Yi was worshipped as
Zongbu, a god who prevents
disaster. His wife is now venerated
as the spirit of the moon. ■The Mid-Autumn festival
On the 15th day of the 8th lunar
month, when the moon is full,
the Mid-Autumn Festival is
celebrated in China and Vietnam
and by people of Chinese and
Vietnamese origin worldwide.
The event, which dates back to
around 1600 bce, is traditionally a
thanksgiving for the annual rice or
wheat harvest, marked by social
gatherings and offerings for a
bountiful year to come.
A central feature of the festival
is the veneration of the moon
goddess Chang’e, one of manyChinese deities who are still
revered. Gathering at night with
friends and family, people burn
incense, pray, and offer food to
the lunar deity, just as Yi did
when Chang’e had departed the
Earth. The best known of the
foods is mooncake, a circular
pastry commonly filled with a
sweet bean paste. The round
shape of the cakes is symbolic
of togetherness and unity. As
well as being offered to the
moon goddess, these cakes are
often given to friends and family
at this time, usually in elaborate,
beautiful packaging.An actress dressed as Chang’e
flies up to a model moon during
the Mid-Autumn Festival in Jinhua,
Zhejiang Province of China.Xiwangmu gives the elixir
of immortality to Yi.Yi does not
drink it.Fengmeng tries
to steal it.Chang’e drinks
the elixir instead.Immortal, Chang’e
flies to the moon.So Yi was the first to bring
merciful relief to the world
below from all its hardships.
Shan Hai JingUS_216-217_Yi.indd 217 30/11/17 4:56 pm