The Legend of the Ten Suns

The Ten Suns’ Mischief

In their radiant youth, the ten suns had been filled with life and curiosity. By day, they would take turns illuminating the world, and by night, they would return to their mother, Xihe, who would tuck each one into a bed of stars. But as the suns grew, so too did their longing for adventure and companionship. They began to feel constrained by the routine of one brother at a time gracing the skies. Thus, they hatched a plan to rise together, eager to see the world bathed in their combined light.

On that fateful morning, they ascended as one, their radiance blending to form a blinding light that enveloped the land. As their heat intensified, rivers dried up, crops withered, and animals and people alike sought refuge from the relentless glare. Villages that had once flourished in fertile valleys were left barren under the scorching assault. Panic spread across the lands as people feared their end was near, and whispers of prayers reached the ears of the gods.

Di Jun, the father of the suns, was moved by the suffering of humanity. Yet, he could not bear to harm his own children. He tried reasoning with the ten, pleading with them to return to their original order, but his words fell on deaf ears. The suns were entranced by their newfound freedom, indifferent to the havoc they had unleashed. Desperate to save the world, Di Jun summoned his most formidable warrior, Hou Yi, a renowned archer and hero known for his unerring aim and steadfast heart.

Hou Yi’s Task

Hou Yi’s reputation as a skilled archer and protector was known far and wide. Tales of his heroism had traveled through every village and city, and his wisdom was said to be unmatched. Yet, even with all his skill, the task before him seemed insurmountable. He was to face not mere mortals but the ten radiant sons of Di Jun, each possessing the power to scorch the very earth.

Hou Yi accepted Di Jun’s request with a heavy heart, understanding the weight of his duty. He climbed to the highest peak, carrying his legendary red jade bow and a quiver filled with golden arrows forged by the gods themselves. From his vantage point, he could see the devastation the suns had caused — rivers turned to dry beds, forests reduced to cinders, and lands once green and fertile transformed into endless stretches of parched earth. His heart ached for his people, and his resolve hardened.

With a deep breath, he notched his first arrow and pulled back the bowstring, aiming at one of the suns. He released the arrow, which streaked across the sky like a comet, striking the sun with precision. The sun fell from the sky, its light extinguished, leaving only nine in its wake.

But as Hou Yi continued his task, each arrow he released brought him no joy. Though he saved the land, he was also taking the lives of Di Jun’s sons, brothers who had only wished for freedom and play. With every shot, Hou Yi whispered a silent prayer, hoping that his sacrifice would be understood.

The Last Sun

As Hou Yi’s arrows took down sun after sun, the sky grew dimmer, the intense heat finally abating. With only one sun left in the heavens, the world found relief from the scorching brightness, and a gentle warmth returned to the land. But Hou Yi hesitated. The last sun hung in the sky, casting a golden glow that reminded Hou Yi of the balance he was fighting to protect.

At that moment, Di Jun appeared, his face marked by sorrow and gratitude. He had watched as Hou Yi’s arrows felled his sons, understanding the necessity of the act even as it tore at his heart. He approached Hou Yi and spoke with a voice filled with grief.

“You have saved the Earth, Hou Yi,” he said, “but I ask you to spare my last son, that he may carry the light and warmth alone, as he was once meant to do.”

Hou Yi nodded, lowering his bow. He understood that the remaining sun would fulfill the task of all ten, rising each day to illuminate the world. But the balance had been restored, and the earth would live on, grateful for the single sun’s gentle touch.

A Life Changed

Hou Yi returned to his village, but he was not the same man who had set out on his journey. He was honored as a hero, yet his heart was heavy with the memory of the suns he had felled. Seeking peace, he retreated into solitude, hoping to find solace in the quiet of the forest. But his story spread far and wide, and soon, people came to him seeking wisdom and guidance, for he had become a living legend.

Among those who sought Hou Yi’s counsel was a young woman named Chang’e. She was graceful and kind, her heart pure and filled with empathy. Chang’e saw beyond Hou Yi’s deeds, recognizing the burden he bore. With her compassion, she brought light back into his life, becoming his beloved companion. Together, they were revered, and their love became a symbol of unity and sacrifice, honored in songs and stories throughout the land.

Yet, Hou Yi’s story did not end with his marriage to Chang’e. The gods, both grateful and sorrowful, offered Hou Yi a gift of immortality. But he refused, choosing instead to live a mortal life with his beloved. He accepted a single elixir of eternal life, which he kept safely hidden, wishing for a life of humility and peace beside Chang’e.

Chang’e’s Ascension

Despite Hou Yi’s intentions, fate had another plan. One day, a man named Fengmeng, filled with jealousy and envy of Hou Yi’s prowess and honor, discovered the elixir’s existence. Driven by greed, he plotted to steal it. On a fateful night, Fengmeng broke into Hou Yi’s home while he was away.

Chang’e, seeing Fengmeng’s treachery, made a choice to protect the elixir and Hou Yi’s honor. She consumed the elixir herself, and in doing so, was transformed. Her body grew lighter, and a celestial force pulled her upward, away from the mortal realm. Hou Yi returned just in time to see Chang’e ascend into the sky, her tearful gaze locked on him as she floated higher and higher.

Unable to follow, Hou Yi could only watch as his beloved drifted beyond reach, her figure merging with the distant moon. Chang’e became the Moon Goddess, a luminous figure who would forever watch over the Earth and her beloved Hou Yi.

The Eternal Reunion

Though separated by realms, the love between Hou Yi and Chang’e remained immortal. Hou Yi would spend each night gazing at the moon, and on the fifteenth day of each lunar month, the moon would shine its brightest, as if Chang’e herself were drawing closer to him. Villagers noticed this, and a festival grew around the legend, where offerings of mooncakes and prayers for loved ones united families, honoring the love that defied even the distance between heaven and earth.

To this day, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates Hou Yi and Chang’e, the archer and his beloved, who, despite the vast chasm between them, remain bound by love. Their story became a legend, reminding all who heard it of the sacrifice that preserves balance, the courage that overcomes the impossible, and the eternal love that binds even the sun and the moon.