Chang’e flying to the moon

In China, there are a lot of folk tales, but one of the most famous stories is Chang’e flying to the moon. There are many versions of this story, but I remember another version that my grandma told to me.

In ancient time, Chang’e is a very beautiful, royal person. She liked to help poor people. Everyone liked her. In that country, the king who was named Hou Yi was brave and good at shooting, but the character of him was cruel, the implementation of tyranny in the country, so that the people complained.

One day, there ten suns suddenly appeared in the sky, and the temperature became very high. There was no food and water in the world, the crops were dead. The sky was so smoky that the people could no longer live.

Hou Yi saw his country was about to die, so he had to take out his bow and arrow, climb to the top of KunLun, full of strength, and pull the bow, “whoosh ~” he shot down nine suns in one breath. The temperature has become normal. People are back to their original lives. Because Hou Yi saved many people’s lives, the Western Queen Mother on KunLun Mountain gave Hou Yi a pill of fairy medicine. It is said that one who takes this medicine can live forever and also ascend to Heaven. But if Hou Yi is immortal, the people will always bear the brutal rule of Hou Yi. Everyone was in a panic. The days of the common people were not as good as the days before. Chang’e had no patience to see people’s lives getting worse and worse, so she had an idea. One day, on night, she sneaked into the palace, and stole the panacea collected by Hou Yi. When she got the fairy medicine, she hesitated, because if she ate the fairy medicine, she would be immortal and ascend to heaven. She couldn’t see her friends or her family any more. She would no longer be a mortal and could no longer enjoy the happiness of the world. But she remembered the people, so she ate the fairy medicine and flew in the sky . Chang’e missed the world and the people, so she flew to the nearest moon. Then became a fairy on the moon. But she saved the whole country.

This is another version that my grandma told to me; I think it is very interesting.

                                     April 29, 2020

                                         Libby

The Story of Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi

A long time ago, in the Spring and Autumn Period, there were two best friends. Their friendship was great and touching. The story of this friendship, started with a song, Mountain and Flowing Water.

Yu Boya was a royal musician. He was the greatest musician in the Spring and Autumn Period. He played music for the emperor. He should have been really happy, but he was kind of depressed. People said he played music well, but they didn’t knew what he exactly meant in his music.

But once, when he played music on mountain, a young man came. The young man was Zhong Ziqi. When Boya played about the mountains, Ziqi asked him, "Are you playing about the mountains around us?” Boya was so surprised. Ziqi knew what he played, and he was the first person who knew his music exactly! When Boya played about the water, Ziqi asked, "Are you playing about the rivers?” Boya said, "Yes! Do you want to be my best friend?” Ziqi said:” Of course!” They started their friendship and they named the song; they called it the Mountain and Flowing Water.

They played the music and had fun every day, but one day, Ziqi died of the illness. Boya was so sad. Then he broke his zither and threw it off the cliff. He said, "Ziqi is my only best friend; he knew my music. But now, he’s died; no one can know my feeling. I don’t have to play music anymore!” One of the greatest musicians in Chinese history, stopped his music life because of his friendship; this is such greatness.

Nowadays, people use “Mountain and Flow Water” to praise the great friendship. Boya and Ziqi’s story makes us know, friends are the best.

David, April 2020