1. Chang'e flies to the moon

In ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky at the same time, causing the crops to wither and the people to live in dire straits. A hero named Hou Yi, who was extremely powerful, sympathized with the suffering. The people drew their magical bows and shot down more than nine suns at once, and strictly ordered the last sun to rise and set on time to benefit the people. Hou Yi's wife's name was Chang'e. Hou Yi spent all day with his wife except passing on his skills and hunting. Many people with lofty ideals came here to learn skills from the master, and Peng Meng with evil intentions also got in.

One day, Hou Yi went to Kunlun Mountain to visit friends and seek enlightenment, and asked the Queen Mother for a packet of elixir. It is said that if you take this medicine, you can immediately ascend to heaven and become an immortal. However, Hou Yi was reluctant to leave his wife and temporarily gave the elixir to Chang'e for collection. Chang'e hid the medicine in the treasure box on the dressing table. Three days later, Hou Yi led his disciples to go hunting. Peng Meng, who had evil intentions, pretended to be sick and did not go out. Shortly after Hou Yi led everyone away, Peng Meng broke into the backyard of the inner house with a sword and forced Chang'e to hand over the elixir. Chang'e knew that she was no match for Peng Meng. When she was in danger, she turned around and opened the treasure box, took out the elixir and swallowed it in one gulp. Chang'e swallowed the medicine, and her body immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window, and flew to the sky. Because Chang'e cared about her husband, she flew to the moon closest to the world and became an immortal.

In the evening, Hou Yi returned home, and the maids cried about what happened during the day. Hou Yi was frightened and angry. He drew his sword to kill the villain, but Peng Meng had already escaped. Hou Yi was so angry that he beat his chest and was distraught. He looked up at the night sky and called Chang'e. Then he found that today's moon was particularly bright and bright, and there was a person. The shaking figure resembles Chang'e. Hou Yi missed his wife, so he sent people to the back garden that Chang'e loved, set up an incense table, put the sweetmeats and fresh fruits that Chang'e loved to eat, and offered sacrifices to Chang'e in the moon palace. After the people heard the news that Chang'e flew to the moon and became an immortal, they all set up incense tables under the moon and prayed to the kind-hearted Chang'e for good luck and peace. From then on, the custom of worshiping the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival spread among the people.

2. Wu Gang cut down the osmanthus

It is said that there is a laurel tree in the moon. "Huainanzi" has said that "there is a laurel tree in the moon". Later legends are more specific, and there are laurel trees next to the osmanthus tree. Wu Gang, a man who conquered Guangxi, was added. The legend of the osmanthus tree in the moon and Wu Gang is most detailed in "Tianji", the first volume of Duan Chengshi's "Youyang Zazu" in the Tang Dynasty. It says: "It is said in the past that there are osmanthus and toads in the moon, so A different book says that the laurel tree is five hundred feet high, and there is a man who often cuts it. His name is Wu Gang, a native of Xihe. He has a history of learning from immortals, and he was banished to cut down trees. This means that Wu Gang once followed the immortals to practice Taoism and went to heaven. , but he made a mistake, so the immortal sent him to the moon and ordered him to cut down the tree of immortality - laurel. The laurel tree is five hundred feet high and can be cut back together. Emperor Yan used this endless labor to punish Wu Gang. There is a record in Li Bai's poem "If you want to cut the laurel in the moon, you will hold on to the salary of those who are cold".

3. Xuanzong traveled to the moon

It is said that Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Shen Tianshi and Taoist priest Hongdu were looking at the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Climb the blue clouds and roam the moon palace. However, the palace is heavily guarded and cannot be entered. The only option is to overlook the Chang'an Imperial City from outside. On this occasion, I suddenly heard bursts of fairy sounds, which were so clear, strange, and mesmerizing! Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty had always been familiar with the music, so he kept it in his heart. This is exactly what "this song should only exist in heaven, and how many times can it be heard in the human world!" Later, Xuanzong recalled the music and singing of Xian'e in the Moon Palace, and composed and choreographed the music himself. This is the famous "Nancy Dress and Feather Clothes Song" in history.