Contemplating the Moon on a Chinese Holiday

Perhaps most of you know that the Chinese New Year is the biggest traditional holiday in China, but can you name the second biggest traditional holiday? If you are having trouble identifying it, you are not alone – it is not very well known in the West. The name of this holiday is Zhong Qiu (中秋), directly translated as Mid-Autumn Festival. The holiday falls on August 15th in the Chinese lunar calendar, which is September 27th this year. Even if you have not have heard of the Mid-Autumn Festival, you may have heard of the tasty treats that usually go along with it – mooncakes. As reflected in the name mooncake, this festival is traditionally marked by celebrations of the moon. Besides eating mooncakes, Chinese children also take to the streets with beautiful lanterns and celebrate with their friends. Similar to the American Thanksgiving, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest celebration. But similar to other Chinese holidays, there are also many different legends and myths that explain the origins of this holiday. This is the most traditional one:

Once upon a time, there were ten suns in the sky. They each used to take turns rising in the sky, regulating the earth’s climate and seasons. But after a while, the ten suns got bored of the routine, so they decided to all rise simultaneously every day. As you can imagine, the presence of ten suns in the sky scorched the earth and caused great suffering for the people. A famous archer named Houyi saw the suffering of the people and decided to take it upon himself to save the earth from the ten suns. He climbed over ninety nine mountains (in the heat of ten suns!) and crossed ninety nine rivers to travel to the eastern end of the land. When he arrived, he took out his bow and mounted arrows that weighed thousands of pounds and shot them into the sky. He shot down nine of the ten suns and made the last sun promise to follow a regular routine. Houyi was celebrated as a hero by the people, and news of his bravery reached the heavens.

An angel in the heavens named Chang’e fell in love with Houyi. She came down from the heavens and became a regular human being. The two of them were happily married, but that soon attracted the jealousy of Houyi’s archery student named Peng Meng and the hatred of the Queen of the Western Heavens. One day, the Queen of the Western Heavens, who was the mother of the ten suns, sought to revenge her nine sons’ death. So she summoned Houyi to the heavens and pretended to award him with a capsule of eternal life. Although this may seem like a blessing, it was actually the Queen’s scheme to cause strife between Houyi and Chang’e. Since there was only one capsule, only one of them could have eternal life, while the other one would be left to die on earth. But the love between Houyi and Chang’e was so strong, that they decided neither of them would take the capsule. Houyi charged Chang’e to put away the capsule, and the two of them remained as normal mortals on earth.

One year, on August 15th, when Houyi was out hunting, his archery student Peng Meng snuck into the house. He had heard about the capsule and wanted to steal it for himself. After a futile search of the house, he finally found Chang’e and forced her to give up the capsule. In a moment of duress, Chang’e took the capsule and swallowed it herself. Suddenly, her body grew lighter and she began to float upward toward the sky. By the time Houyi realized what had happen, it was already too late. Chang’e had disappeared from the earth and floated high into the sky. Not wanting to be too far from her husband, Chang’e took up residence on the moon, but tragically the two of them were forever separated from each other.

Therefore on August 15th every year, the day of his wife’s separation, Houyi made offerings to the moon and prayed that his wife would return to him. Many people learned of Houyi’s misfortune, and every year on August 15th, they also joined in Houyi’s prayer that Chang’e might return to reunite with her husband. It is said that if you look at the moon very carefully on August 15th in the Chinese calendar, you can see the shadow of Chang’e dancing on the moon.

In the Chinese lunar calendar, the moon on August 15th is the year’s fullest and brightest. A full moon in Chinese culture always represents wholeness and reunion; therefore, many families gather on this holiday to sit under the moon and eat mooncakes. Yet while this day is typically associated with intimate family gatherings and joyous lantern celebrations, at the heart of this holiday is a story of separation and loss. A famous poet named Su Shi once wrote on this holiday,

“People may experience sorrow, joy, separation and reunion, the moon may grow dim, bright, full and incomplete, these two things have never been perfect since ancient times. May we all be blessed with long life, though thousands of miles apart, we can still share the beauty of the moon together.”

This has become my favorite poem. The poem and this holiday perfectly capture the sadness and yearning that characterize so much of our human experiences. Separation is never far from reunion; full moons are only a few days from waning. Even on joyous holidays such as these, an inevitable sense of sadness and loss always lingers. At times we may be too quick to turn away from these sorrow, perhaps believing that they are unworthy of our victory in Christ. But it is precisely such helplessness in our separations that connect us as human beings and drive us to the Cross, for we do not have a God who is disconnected from our separations. On the Cross, God the Son was separated from God the Father, so that we may have eternal reunion with Him. Unlike all the sad stories we tell, this is not a story that ends in eternal separation. In Christ, our separation is temporary, but reunion is forever.

 

Ryan immigrated to the United States from China in 1999 and currently lives in the Boston metro area. He is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Georgetown University, and he currently serves as a pastoral intern and staff member at Christ the King Presbyterian Church.

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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