Hello One and All!
The legend up for discussion today, of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, is one that forms part of the Qixi Festival of China (which in turn inspired Chilseok, in Korea, and Tanabata, in Japan). The Qixi Festival of China takes place on on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, a day that's filled with romance and desire, and as such it is often compared to Valentine's Day by some.
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl
There was once a cowherd named Niulang, who was banished from home, with only an old ox as a companion. The animal led him to a lake, where he came upon a group of goddesses bathing. When his eyes met one of them, called Zhinu, it was instant love.
The couple were deeply in love and had two children together but the bliss wasn't to last. News of the secret love reached Wang-mu, the Empress of Heaven and Zhinu's mother, and she sent soldiers to escort her to her heavenly abode. The cowherd was distraught but the the old ox had a plan; it told him that if he slaughtered the animal and wore its hide that he would be able to travel across heaven.
With his two children in his arms and wearing the oxhide, Nuilang travelled across heaven and called out to his love. Both of them spotted each other and they moved towards each other, but at the last moment Wang-mu threw a hairpin between them, which split the heavens and created a river between Niulang (and the two children) and Zhinu.
Zhinu's parents were so moved by the strong love of the couple though that they relented and allowed them to meet; once a year a bridge of magpies would form and allow the two lovers to have contact with each other. In the night sky the two brightest stars, Altair and Vega, can still be seen shining, separated by the Milky Way.
Thank you for reading!
The legend up for discussion today, of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, is one that forms part of the Qixi Festival of China (which in turn inspired Chilseok, in Korea, and Tanabata, in Japan). The Qixi Festival of China takes place on on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, a day that's filled with romance and desire, and as such it is often compared to Valentine's Day by some.
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl
There was once a cowherd named Niulang, who was banished from home, with only an old ox as a companion. The animal led him to a lake, where he came upon a group of goddesses bathing. When his eyes met one of them, called Zhinu, it was instant love.
 |
| The Weaver Girl by Zhang Ling. |
The couple were deeply in love and had two children together but the bliss wasn't to last. News of the secret love reached Wang-mu, the Empress of Heaven and Zhinu's mother, and she sent soldiers to escort her to her heavenly abode. The cowherd was distraught but the the old ox had a plan; it told him that if he slaughtered the animal and wore its hide that he would be able to travel across heaven.
With his two children in his arms and wearing the oxhide, Nuilang travelled across heaven and called out to his love. Both of them spotted each other and they moved towards each other, but at the last moment Wang-mu threw a hairpin between them, which split the heavens and created a river between Niulang (and the two children) and Zhinu.
 |
| The reunion of the couple. Artwork in the Long Corridor of the Summer Palace in Beijing. |
Zhinu's parents were so moved by the strong love of the couple though that they relented and allowed them to meet; once a year a bridge of magpies would form and allow the two lovers to have contact with each other. In the night sky the two brightest stars, Altair and Vega, can still be seen shining, separated by the Milky Way.
Thank you for reading!
Comments
Post a Comment