The story of NiuLangZhiNu was created around AD220. Although contract marriage was prevalent, people admired the relationship of those who are genuinely in love with each other, rather than those that are married for family wealth. 
One day, ZhiNu, who was a goddess, was hanging around in the human world and swimming in a lake. NiuLang, who is just a human, passed by the lake and picked up ZhiNu’s cloth. After ZhiNu asked NiuLang to return her clothes they fell in love with each other. They soon got married and had two cute children.
Love between a goddess and a human, sadly , was banned, and YuDi, an emperor who was in charge of heaven, sent other gods to take Zhinu back. NiuLang grabbed a shoulder pole and put their children in the baskets and chased after gods who captured ZhiNu. When NiuLang was about to catch the gods, WangMuNiangNiang, who was a powerful goddess, drew a river to stop him, and that became the Milky Way. Nonetheless, Niulang persisted and their love eventually moved WangMuNiangNiang. Although WangMuNiangNiang refused to let them live together, ZhiNu, NiuLang and their children were allowed to meet once every year on the bridge built by magpies across the river that WangMuNiangNiang created.
Relationship
In ancient times, many couples were separated from their loved ones because of social hierarchy and war. The story of NiuLang and ZhiNu reveals people’s desire for the “perfect relationship” and their despair in front of social barriers that prevents people who are in love with each other from being together. The gods that separated NiuLang and ZhiNu represent the irresistible force from different things in the human world.
Stars
NiuLang and ZhiNu are represented by two constellations. Ancient people had precise observations of the sky and studied them. They noticed that the two constellations were separated during most times of the year and will reunite on July 25th every year. Without science to explain the natural phenomenon, they made up the story of NiuLang and ZhiNu that combined their expectations in love and explanations of the sky.
Magpie
Magpies, birds that have white and black fur, were considered as luck in ancient Chinese society, even their Chinese name, 喜鹊 has the word “luck” in . Ancient people wished that magpie could bring luck to NiuLang and ZhiNu. In addition, people also thought that magpies used their feathers to build the bridge. Because after July, most magpies lose their feathers.
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Picture Source: Pinterest
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