The Story of Hou Yi Shooting the Suns

In the distant era of ancient China, when the world was still young and shrouded in myth, there existed ten suns—each the radiant child of the great deity Di Jun and the goddess Xi He. They resided in the vast Fusang tree beyond the eastern seas, and by divine decree, only one would journey across the sky each day in their mother’s chariot, bringing light and warmth to the mortal realm. But the suns grew restless in their solitude. They yearned to play together, to illuminate the heavens as one.

One fateful dawn, they defied the order of the cosmos. All ten suns leaped into the sky, dancing with fiery abandon. The earth, once nurtured by their gentle rotation, now groaned under their collective wrath. Rivers boiled away into steam, forests erupted in flames, and crops withered to dust. The people suffered terribly, their skin blistered by the relentless heat, while fearsome beasts like the Yaoguai emerged from the scorched lands to prey upon the weakened and the dying.

The emperor Yao, ruler of the mortal world, watched in despair. He knelt in prayer to the Jade Emperor in the heavens, pleading for mercy. Moved by the suffering below, the celestial court decided to intervene. They summoned Hou Yi, the divine archer whose skill with a bow was unmatched in all realms. Hou Yi was known not only for his strength but also for his profound love for his wife, Chang’e, a beauty whose grace was said to rival the moon itself. Together, they embodied the harmony of yin and yang—the fierce protector and the gentle guardian.

Hou Yi received his mandate with a heavy heart. Descending to earth on a celestial cloud, he witnessed the devastation firsthand: villages abandoned, children weeping, and the very earth cracking like a tortoise shell. He knew that mere words could not persuade the rebellious suns; action was needed. But first, he sought the wisdom of the ancient ones. An elder, his face etched with the pain of the land, whispered, "Great Archer, if you destroy them all, darkness will consume us. We must balance mercy with justice."

With determination burning in his eyes, Hou Yi climbed the highest mountain—a peak that pierced the smoky heavens. He drew his massive bow, crafted from dragon tendon and infused with celestial energy, and nocked an arrow tipped with white jade. He called out to the suns, urging them to heed their duty. But they only laughed, their brilliant light blinding and arrogant.

One by one, Hou Yi took aim. His first arrow sang through the air, piercing a sun’s core. It exploded into a shower of golden sparks, fading into nothingness. The earth sighed as a cool shadow briefly passed over. Again and again, Hou Yi fired, each shot true and relentless. Eight suns fell, their light extinguished, until only one remained. This final sun trembled in fear, realizing its folly. Hou Yi lowered his bow, sparing it as a beacon for eternity.

The world began to heal. Rains returned, washing away the ash, and green shoots pushed through the soil. The people rejoiced, hailing Hou Yi as a hero. But his mission was not yet complete. With the same bow, he hunted down the monstrous Yaoguai, restoring peace to the land.

Yet, Hou Yi’s actions had consequences. The Jade Emperor, while acknowledging his bravery, was enraged that he had killed nine divine beings—children of heaven. As punishment, Hou Yi and Chang’e were stripped of their immortality and exiled to the mortal world, forever separated from the courts of the gods.

Hou Yi accepted this fate with dignity, becoming a benevolent ruler among humans. But Chang’e, longing for the celestial home she had lost, grew despondent. In a desperate bid to reclaim eternity, Hou Yi embarked on a quest to the Kunlun Mountains, where the Queen Mother of the West dwelled. After proving his purity of heart, he was given a single elixir of immortality—enough for one person to regain divinity.

He returned to Chang’e, planning to share a life of mortal love rather than consume the potion alone. But while he was away, a treacherous disciple named Feng Meng attempted to steal the elixir. To protect it, Chang’e drank the potion herself. Her body grew weightless, and she floated upward, drawn to the cold, lonely moon—where she became its eternal goddess, forever watching the world she left behind.

Hou Yi, heartbroken but proud, built a palace facing the moon, offering sacrifices each full moon to honor his beloved. And so, the tale of Hou Yi’s sacrifice and Chang’e’s loneliness became woven into the fabric of Chinese culture, a story of love, loss, and the delicate balance between heaven and earth. To this day, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people gaze at the moon, remembering the archer who saved the world and the goddess who watches over it—a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity and the mysteries of the cosmos.