The term "mid-autumn," which became the name of the festival, appears in "Zhou li" (周禮), or the Rites of Zhou. In the agricultural society of premodern China, the Mid-Autumn Festival was linked with harvesting season celebrations. To this day, Chinese people continue this tradition, making offerings of mooncakes in commemoration of the goddess as they make wishes or pray for familial unity and harmony. The local people sympathize with him and also start making the same offerings. On his part, Yi makes sacrifices to his departed wife that feature cakes and fruits. She then chooses the moon as her immortal abode, to be close to her beloved husband. She digests the elixir only in order to prevent it from falling in the hands of an evil person. She is described as a model of feminine beauty and elegance. Later versions of the story, still told today, present a more flattering image of the goddess. She then escaped to the moon, where she was condemned to a lonely existence. (Image credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art)Ĭhang'e is said to have stolen the elixir of immortality from her husband, Yi, the great archer and hero of Chinese mythology. The earliest versions of the story can be traced back to the Warring States, a significant historical period between 475-221 B.C., marked by recurrent warfare, bureaucratic reforms and political consolidation. ![]() These are notable elements of popular lore, rooted in China’s long history and rich cultural traditions.Ĭustomarily, the Mid-Autumn Festival is associated with the popular legend about Chang'e (嫦娥), the goddess of the moon. The legends behind the festivalĪs a scholar of Chinese religions, I am especially fascinated by the legends associated with the origins of the festival. These are created by commercial ice cream companies in order to tap into the lucrative mooncake market and cater to contemporary tastes. It is even possible to find ice cream mooncakes. The yellow egg yolk adds another layer of symbolism, as it resembles the round moon in the sky.Īdditionally, there are contemporary flavors such as chocolate, coffee or green tea. There are many regional variations, some of which contain a preserved egg yolk in the middle. Usually, mooncakes come with traditional fillings, such as red bean or white lotus seed paste. The roundness of the full moon, in turn, symbolizes wholeness by extension, it conveys a sense of spiritual contentment, coming together and reunion. The round shape of the mooncake is meant to evoke an image of the full moon. ![]() The gifting and eating of mooncakes is arguably the most emblematic feature of the festival. (Image credit: VCG via Getty Images) Mooncakes: Tradition and innovation 20, 2021, during celebrations of the Moon Festival. Moon cakes on display at Laojun Mountain on Sept.
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