avatarR. Rangan PhD

Summary

The article recounts the ancient Chinese legend of the Moon Festival, symbolizing eternal love through the tale of the sun warrior and his beloved who ascended to the moon, and the tradition of eating moon cakes and releasing lanterns that continues to celebrate their love.

Abstract

The narrative begins "a long long time ago" when the world had multiple suns, a scenario that changed when a sun warrior eliminated all but one. Grateful, the Queen Mother of the West bestowed upon him the gift of immortality. He decided to share this with his beloved, but an unfortunate turn of events led to her consuming the elixir and becoming a celestial inhabitant of the moon. In her honor, the heartbroken warrior initiated the tradition of feasting on moon cakes on the 15th day of the Eighth lunar month. This legend persists, with moon cakes and lanterns serving as timeless emblems of enduring love. The article concludes by acknowledging Victor Sarkin and the GiaB team for the week's writing prompt, "The Moon," and expresses gratitude to those who engage with the story and feel inspired by it.

Opinions

  • The author views the story of the sun warrior and his love as a poignant symbol of everlasting love and sacrifice.
  • The tradition of eating moon cakes is seen as a joyful commemoration of love and unity, despite the heartbreaking origin of the tradition.
  • The release of lanterns is interpreted as an act of hope for the reunion of star-crossed lovers, reflecting the collective dream of the Mid-Autumn Love story.
  • The article suggests that true love, as exemplified by the sun warrior's actions, involves sacrifice and lives on in our collective consciousness.
  • The author expresses appreciation for the creative inspiration provided by the GiaB writing prompt and the community's engagement with the story.

Moon Cakes and Lanterns

GiaB prompt #6: The Moon

Photo by DAN MA on Unsplash

A long long time ago the world had many suns Along came the sun warrior Who shot all but one

To thank him, Queen Mother gave him the immortal elixir Pleased, he decided to share it with the one he loved

As luck would have it Evil intervened To escape, his love took the elixir and floated to live on the moon

Heartbroken, the sun warrior celebrated their love by calling for a feast with her favorite cake on the 15th day of the Eighth lunar month

The legend lives on today A symbol of eternal love as old as the moon and a delicious moon-cake

Lanterns fill the sky with the hope that one day star-crossed lovers are united the sun warrior and his lady on the moon

The moon is a reminder that true love asks for sacrifice and it lives on forever in our collective dream as the Mid-Autumn Love story!

Thank you to Victor Sarkin & the GiaB team for this week’s prompt: The Moon.

Tagging: Lucy The Eggcademic (she/her) Dr. Marina Harris GB Rogut and anyone else who reads this and feels inspired.

Giabprompt
Moon
Mid Autumn Festival
Love
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