Chang E – Goddess of Moon
Zhong Qiu Festival {Hok Kian = Tiong Ciu} which is commemorated annually on 8th month of 15th day of Chinese calendar/ Imlek {Peh Gwe Cap Go}, is considered as the birthday of Chang E. Generally the people worshipped by providing a small table on the home yard at the time of full month, by presenting fresh fruits, flowers & moon cake.
Adoration on sun & month had been exist since ancient time & not only performed by Chinese people. This adoration includes adoration of state in which the kingdom’s servants kneeled & provided ritual offerings to the Gods of Sun. Meanwhile adoration to the Goddess of Moon held coincide with the harvest party at the time of full moon, namely on 8th month, 15th day of Chinese calendar. Currently, people usually together with their families light joss sticks & kneels to the Goddess of Moon on their home yard.
日神 Ri Shen {Jit Sin}, God of Sun was also known太陽帝君 Tai Yang Di Jun (abbreviated with太陽公 Tai Yang Gong). 月神 Yue Shen {Gwat Sin} Goddess of Moon was also called太陰皇金 Tai Yin Huang Jin (太陰娘 Tai Yin Niang) or月府嫦娥 Yue Fu Chang E (Chang E from Palace of Moon).
Tai Yang Di Jun, who was known with the name of Hou Yi was a top-notch archer. It was told at that time was the year XII the government of Emperor Yao (B.C. 2346). Big disaster was hitting his country; drought destroyed all agricultural lands resulting in famine everywhere. That Catastrophe was caused by there were 10 suns coming out together in the heavens. It was said the 10 suns were sons and daughters of Dong Hua Di Zun {Tong Hua Tek Kun}, namely God the Ruler of East Heavens.
Since he couldn’t tolerate any longer the manner of his sons and daughters & also due to pray of requests that continuously performed by Emperor Yao, Dong Hua Di Jun felt necessary to act to stop the actions. He then called Hou Yi, a sacred angle, to go down to the world. But he sent a message in order that his sons and daughters were given the lessons, not killed. Hou Yi then went down to the world together with his wife, Chang E {Siang Go}, a beautiful goddess.
Hou Yi then met Emperor Yao. Noticing a chaotic world condition at that time, Hou Yi was very angry. Regardless a message of Dong Hua Di Jun, he shot an arrow at that suns one by one & finally there was a sun left. Seeing Hou Yi didn’t follow his instruction, Dong Hua Di Jun was annoyed. Ever since, Hou Yi couldn’t come back to the heavens any longer. Nevertheless, Hou Yi still continued his effort to save people from catastrophe by exterminating various kinds of wild & strange animals that disturbing the people. Due to his courage & bravery, making Hou Yi was adored as a hero.
Chang E, due to Hou Yi’s conduct, couldn’t come back to the heavens to become a Goddess. She was very annoyed. Ever since, her relationship with Hou Yi was not close & wide apart.
One day, Hou Yi went to the Mount Kun Lun Shan to meet Xi Wang Mu (Goddess the Ruler of West Heavens) to ask for drug for eternal life eternally. Xi Wang Mu granted his request. Hou Yi was very happy, since with the said drug he had opportunity to re-become an angle.
One day when Hou Yi was not at home, Chang E saw a ray of white light highlighting down from a roof’s cantilever, simultaneously a fragrance filling out the room. With a ladder, she searched the source of light & fragrance. Chang E found drug for eternal life being kept by Hou Yi. Without thinking longer she swallowed that drug. Then she felt her body was light and could fly in the sky. That night, the Moon shone brightly. Chang E kept flying toward the moon and lived there.
Palace of moon was in fact very silent, beyond expectation of Chang E. There, there was only a rabbit that had never stopped pounding medicine in mortal & a plant cinnamon plant. Chang E was very lonely, but she couldn’t go down to the world & met her husband any longer. She regretted & started to memorize her husband’s deeds. Chang E lived forever in Moon & become a symbol of Yin (negative element /female).
Hou Yi, when he realized that his drug for eternal life has been stolen by his wife, then he hunted to the heavens. But typhoon brought him stranded on a mountain. On the mountain peak there was a palace occupied by Dong Wang Gong (Dong Hua Di Jun). “Don’t be restless. Now your wife have become a goddess in the Moon & you yourself, due to your courage & bravery is proper to become a God. For you has been prepared a palace in the Sun to become your residence. From now, Yang & Yin will unite forever”, said Dong Wang Gong. Then he gave a cake & an amulet that could make he endured against the chillness of Moon if he visited Chang E.
In the Moon, he saw Chang E plunged in thought lonely. Hou Yi said that he would question the drug theft, since both of them had become God and Goddess. In the Moon, Hou Yi established a Guang Han Gong Palace (Palace of Eternal Coolness) to become a residence of Chang E.
Ever since, God of Sun & Goddess of Moon has their regions.
Emperor Yao then appointed Hou Yi to become Zhong Bu Shen, namely the Angle who in-charge to protect the population from natural disaster & other calamity. Eventually, Zhong Bu Shen was consider as the protector of households & able to control evil spirits & warding off misfortune. His picture was installed in houses of population. Thus, Hou Yi was considered as Tai Yang Gong (God of Sun) also called Zhong Bu Shen. While Chang E was called Tai Yin Niang (Goddess of Moon).
Tai Yang Gong’s birthday was commemorated in every 19 date of 3rd month of Chine Calendar. The sunshine was considered as a symbol of Ming (bright) & its heat was considered as a symbol of Zhu (red). By adoring Tai Yang Gong, meaning people remained memorizing Ming Dynasty with its Emperor from Zhu family.
Adoration to the Moon & Sun was only as admiration to both of them, was rarely realized in the form of statue or picture. In general, people faced toward the Sun & moon at the time of worshipping, rarely any temple which was established for them.
In Tainan (South Taiwan) there is only a temple containing statues of God of Sun & Goddess of Moon, namely at Temple of San Guan Tang. In Singapore, at Temple of Giok Hong Tian there is statue of Tai Yang Gong & Tai Yin Niang which is placed on the right & left side of a main altar Yu Huang Da Di. At temple of Guan Yin Tang, Jl. Telok Blangah Drive, Singapore, there is also statue of Tai Yang Gong & Tai Yin Niang.
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