The story of Chang’e dates back to Shang Dynasty (approximately from 1600BC - 1046BC), which is known for the first dynasty that used words to record stories and the worship of primitive witchcraft. 
Chang’e is one of the fairies in Chinese who lives on the moon and married Hou Yi. After Hou Yi shot down 9 suns with his bow and saved people and crops from hot weather, he became the hero of humans, and many people became his students to learn how to use bows. Feng Meng is one of the students. Feng Meng, however, did not care about his bow skills. Feng Meng wanted to steal the medicine that Queen Mother of the West gave Hou Yi had that could make people live forever. Because Hou Yi traveled a lot, Chang’e took care of the medicine for him. One day, when Hou Yi was not home, Feng Meng forced Chang’e to hand out the medicine. For the same of the medicine’s safety, Chang’e, under the emergency, ate the medicine. Not so soon, her weight became very light and flew to the moon.
When Hou Yi got home and could not find his wife, he was really mad and worried. He went out and called for Chang’e’s name thousands time to the moon. Gods above the sky heard Hou Yi’s calling, and Chang’e appeared on the moon. Hou Yi put every food that Chang’e likes on the table to worship his wife in distance. All the villagers helped Hou Yi to set the table too. Hou Yi’s sincere love affected the Mother of Moon and Chang’e and Hou Yi can meet when the full moon occurs.
Superpower
Chang’e abilities of living forever and flying are all the superpowers that people desired for during that time. People clearly knew that they could not achieve them on their own. They believe that the only way for them to possess the superpower is to eat or drink some medicine that has magic.
Moon
People have been having the desire to explore the moon since the Shang Dynasty. People, during that time, think that the only way for humans to land on the moon is via superpowers. Nowadays, however, we know that we could not have superpower, and the only way for us to land on the moon is to ride spacecraft. The story of Chang’e reveals ancient people’s admiration for the moon and the curiosity to explore outer space.
Click to read more from Women in Chinese mythology
Reference:
“嫦娥.”到百科首页, baike.baidu.com/item/嫦娥/68389?fr=aladdin.
Picture Source: Pinterest
“Pin by Raya on Random Beauty in 2020: Oriental Art, Asian Art, Art.”Pinterest, 25 May 2020, www.pinterest.com/pin/319333429831901719/.
“Cloud Queen by Hua Sanchuan Hwe San-Chiuen: Arte Asiático, Arte Japones, Arte y Diseño.”Pinterest, 25 Feb. 2020, www.pinterest.com/pin/711850284833212253/.
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