What are the myths and legends of Mid-Autumn Festival? Three classic legends of Mid-Autumn Festival.

Myths and legends of Mid-Autumn Festival 1. Jade rabbit pound medicine

There is a jade rabbit beside Chang 'e. It is said that Chang 'e became lighter. When she started to take off, she picked up the white rabbit she had been feeding in fear. The white rabbit went to the moon with her. Yutu has a pestle in the Moon Palace, and at night she pounded the elixir into the mortar. After this myth was spread to Japan, it became a jade rabbit mashed rice cake.

Myths and legends of Mid-Autumn Festival II. The Goddess Chang's fly to the moon

In ancient times, there were ten days in the sky at the same time, crops withered and people were miserable. A hero named Hou Yi has infinite power. He sympathized with the suffering people, drew his bow, shot down more than nine suns in one breath, and ordered the last sun to rise and set on time for the benefit of the people. Hou Yi's wife is called Chang 'e, and she spends all her time with her except hunting. Many people with lofty ideals came here to study as teachers, and Meng Peng with ulterior motives joined in.

The Goddess Chang's fly to the moon

One day, Hou Yi visited a friend in Kunlun Mountain and asked the Queen Mother for a bag of elixir. It is said that taking this medicine can instantly ascend to heaven and become immortal. However, Hou Yi was reluctant to leave his wife and temporarily handed over the elixir to Chang 'e for collection. Chang 'e hid the medicine in the treasure chest of the dresser. Three days later, Hou Yi led his entourage out hunting, while Meng Peng pretended to be ill and didn't go out. Shortly after Hou Yi led the crowd to leave, Meng Peng broke into the backyard of the back room with a sword and threatened Chang 'e to hand over the elixir. Chang 'e knew that she was no match for Meng Peng. In a crisis, she turned to open the treasure box, took out the elixir and swallowed it in one gulp. Chang 'e swallowed the medicine and immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window and flew into the sky. Because Chang 'e was worried about her husband, she flew to the nearest moon and became a fairy.

In the evening, when Hou Yi came home, the maids cried and told what happened during the day. Hou Yi was surprised and angry, and drew his sword to kill the villain. Meng Peng has escaped. Hou Yi was so angry that he looked up at the night sky and called for Chang 'e. At this time, he found that the moon today was exceptionally bright and there was a swaying figure resembling Chang 'e. Hou Yi missed his wife, so he sent someone to Chang 'e's favorite back garden, put a table of incense, put on Chang 'e's favorite honey and fresh fruit, and sacrificed Chang 'e in the moon palace. After hearing the news that the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon became an immortal, people set up an incense table under the moon and prayed for good luck and peace to the kind Chang 'e. Since then, the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival in Yue Bai has spread among the people.

Myths and legends of Mid-Autumn Festival III. Moon cake uprising

It is said that eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, the broad masses of the people in the Central Plains could not bear the cruel rule of the ruling class in the Yuan Dynasty and rose up against the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang joined forces with various resistance forces to prepare for the uprising. However, the officers and men of the imperial court searched very closely and it was very difficult to pass on the news. Liu Bowen, a military strategist, came up with a plan and ordered his men to hide a note with the words "Uprising on the 15th of August" in the cake, and then sent people to the uprising troops in different places to inform them to respond to the uprising on the 15th of August. On the day of the uprising, all the rebels responded together.

Soon, Xu Da captured the Yuan Dynasty and the uprising was successful. When the news came, Zhu Yuanzhang was so happy that he quickly sent a message that all the soldiers should have fun with the people in the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and give the "moon cakes" secretly sent at the time of the war as seasonal cakes to the ministers. Since then, the making of "moon cakes" has become more complicated and varied. Since then, the custom of eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival has spread among the people.