Chang-O and the Moon
Part One: Hou Yi and the Sun Birds: Long time ago,there were ten sun birds that lived in a volcano. Each day, 1 of the sun birds would fly up to the sky and around the world, bringing heat, warmness and light to our planet.One days, the ten birds decided to go out on the same day ten sun birds in the sky made it ten times hotter on Earth.The land was scorched. The rivers and seas were dried up. Animals and crops died in the fields. It felt like the world was about to catch on fire. Something had to be done fast.The Emperor sent a young man named Hou Yi, who was known to be a great archer. “Save us,” said the Emperor. “Shoot down the sun birds”quickly’’ said the Emperor.Hou Yi took ten of his arrows and a huge bow,he walked to the top of a hill. He shot down the sun birds one by one, until there was only one left in the sky. He let the last one go so that it would continue to give light and warmth to Earth. “You have saved the world,” said the Emperor, and he rewarded Hou Yi richly.
Part Two: Hou Yi and the Elixir of Immortality: Hou Yi was known to become a hero.Young men flocked to him. They wanted Hou Yi to teach them to be great archers, too. The Queen of Heaven saw what Hou Yi had done and wanted to reward him. She gave him the Elixir of Immortality and told him, “You deserve to live a long and happy life. If you drink half the elixir, you will live forever. If you drink all of it, you will ascend to Heaven.’’ said the Queen of heaven.Time was passed. Hou Yi married a beautiful and lovely girl named Chang-O. He told her about the elixir. “We will pick a good day,” he said, “and share the elixir so that we both become immortal. Then we can live a happy life together forever.”
Part Three: Chang-O and the Elixir of Immortality: But one of Hou Yi’s students, Feng Meng, heard what he said for the conversation. Feng Meng wanted to become immortal, too. One day when Hou Yi was out hunting and Chang-O had gone to the market, Feng Meng sneaked into their house. He wanted to steal the elixir of Immortality for himself, but Chang-O arrived back from the market before he could find the elixir of Immortality. “What are you doing here?” said Chang-O “I want the elixir,” Feng Meng shouted. “Where is it?” Chang-O refused to tell him, but she knew Feng Meng would soon find it. She rushed to the cupboard where it was hidden by her and Hou Yi.’ Chang-O grabbed the bottle, and ran for the door. But she was not quick enough Feng Meng stood in the way of her. Feng Meng was a strong man. Chang-O knew that she could not escape, so to stop him from stealing the elixir, she drank it all herself.
