Eons ago, the 9 sons of the Jade Emperor of Heaven were the 9 suns that traversed the skies bringing warmth to the world. One day, they become mischievous and burnt the earth with their antics bringing suffering to the people. The Jade Emperor despatched the Archer Yi and his wife Chang Er to control the suns. Yi shot and felled them all but when he got to the last sun, Chang Er implored Yi to let him live. Yi agreed but the Jade Emperor was furious that 8 of his sons had been killed. He banished Yi and Chang Er to earth making them mortals. Yi went to the Queen Mother of the Western Heaven to seek an elixir of immortality. She agreed to give him a phial if taken in one go would make him, 0a heavenly spirit but if he shared it with his wife, it would give them immortality but they had to remain on earth.

As with all stories, there are two sides. From Yi’s side, Chang Er stole the elixir when he was asleep and drank it all but as she floated up to Heaven, she was so ashamed at her deed that she flew off to the Moon where she now resides in isolation. From Chang Er’s side, Yi had become so tyrannical that she felt he did not deserve immortality. So she drunk all the elixir and floated to the Moon, where to this day, she glows beneficent for the world. Each year, when the full moon is at its brightest, the Chinese celebrate the Moon Goddess Chang Er by lantern processions, tea drinking and mooncakes.