====== cháng'é: 嫦娥 - Chang'e (Chinese Moon Goddess) ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** Chang'e, Chang E, 嫦娥, Chinese Moon Goddess, Mid-Autumn Festival, 月饼, mooncakes, Hou Yi, 后羿, Chinese mythology, China's Lunar Exploration Program, Jade Rabbit, 玉兔.
  * **Summary:** Discover the legend of Chang'e (嫦娥), the iconic Chinese goddess of the Moon. This entry explores her famous myth involving her husband, the archer Hou Yi, the elixir of immortality, and her central role in the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Learn how this ancient figure of beauty and sacrifice continues to inspire modern China, even lending her name to the nation's ambitious lunar exploration program.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** cháng'é
  * **Part of Speech:** Proper Noun
  * **HSK Level:** N/A
  * **Concise Definition:** Chang'e is the name of the goddess who, according to Chinese mythology, lives on the Moon.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Chang'e is one of the most beloved figures in Chinese folklore. Her story is a mix of romance, tragedy, and sacrifice. She is not a deity one prays to for power, but a cultural symbol of lonely beauty, eternal love, and the mysterious allure of the moon. Her legend is the foundational story of the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of China's most important holidays.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **嫦 (cháng):** This character is used almost exclusively in the name "嫦娥". The left-side radical is //女 (nǚ)//, meaning "woman" or "female". The right side, //常 (cháng)//, means "common" or "constant" and provides the phonetic sound. It was created specifically for this mythological figure.
  * **娥 (é):** This character means "beautiful woman." It also features the //女 (nǚ)// radical, reinforcing the feminine identity.
  * Together, **嫦娥 (cháng'é)** is a proper name that has become inseparable from the identity of the Moon Goddess, literally meaning "the beautiful woman, Chang."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The story of Chang'e is the heart of the **Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiūjié)**. The most common version of the myth goes like this:
Long ago, ten suns scorched the earth. The heroic archer **Hou Yi (后羿)** shot down nine of them, saving humanity. As a reward, he was given an elixir of immortality. Not wanting to live forever without his beloved wife Chang'e, he gave the elixir to her for safekeeping. However, one of Hou Yi's wicked apprentices, Peng Meng, tried to steal the elixir while Hou Yi was away. To prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, Chang'e drank the elixir herself. She immediately became immortal and floated up into the sky, finally landing on the moon, the closest celestial body to Earth.
Heartbroken, Hou Yi would look at the full moon each year and lay out a feast of Chang'e's favorite fruits and cakes, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. This tradition of offering food and gazing at the moon became the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the moon, Chang'e is said to have only one companion: the **Jade Rabbit (玉兔, Yùtù)**, who is often seen pounding the elixir of life.
  * **Western Comparison:** One might be tempted to compare Chang'e to the Greek goddess Artemis (or Roman Diana), who is also associated with the moon. However, the comparison is shallow. Artemis is a powerful, independent huntress and an original deity. Chang'e, in contrast, was a mortal woman whose divinity is a result of tragedy and sacrifice. Her story is not about power, but about love, loss, and loneliness. She is a symbol of quiet, melancholy beauty, not of strength or authority.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
While an ancient figure, Chang'e is highly relevant in modern China.
  * **Mid-Autumn Festival:** The term **嫦娥** is ubiquitous during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Her image adorns countless boxes of mooncakes (月饼), lanterns, and holiday advertisements. TV shows and school plays will often retell her story, known as **嫦娥奔月 (Cháng'é bèn yuè)** - "Chang'e flies to the moon."
  * **Art and Literature:** She is a classic muse for poets, artists, and songwriters, often used as a metaphor for an unattainable, beautiful woman or a distant love.
  * **The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program:** In a powerful blend of tradition and modernity, China's official lunar exploration program is named the **"Chang'e Project" (嫦娥工程, Cháng'é Gōngchéng)**. Its lunar rovers are named **"Yutu" (玉兔, Jade Rabbit)** after her mythical companion. This naming choice reflects immense national pride in China's cultural heritage and its scientific ambitions.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 中秋节的时候，奶奶会给我们讲**嫦娥**奔月的故事。
    * Pinyin: Zhōngqiūjié de shíhòu, nǎinai huì gěi wǒmen jiǎng **Cháng'é** bèn yuè de gùshì.
    * English: During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Grandma will tell us the story of Chang'e flying to the moon.
    * Analysis: This shows the most common context for the term: storytelling during the festival.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你看，今晚的月亮又大又圆，好像真的能看到**嫦娥**和玉兔。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, jīnwǎn de yuèliàng yòu dà yòu yuán, hǎoxiàng zhēn de néng kàn dào **Cháng'é** hé Yùtù.
    * English: Look, the moon tonight is so big and round, it seems like you can really see Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit.
    * Analysis: A common, romantic phrase used when appreciating the full moon.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 中国的“**嫦娥**五号”探测器成功从月球带回了样本。
    * Pinyin: Zhōngguó de "**Cháng'é** wǔ hào" tàncèqì chénggōng cóng yuèqiú dài huí le yàngběn.
    * English: China's "Chang'e 5" probe successfully brought back samples from the moon.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the term's modern usage in science and technology.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 古代诗人常常用**嫦娥**来表达对远方爱人的思念。
    * Pinyin: Gǔdài shīrén chángcháng yòng **Cháng'é** lái biǎodá duì yuǎnfāng àirén de sīniàn.
    * English: Ancient poets often used Chang'e to express longing for a distant lover.
    * Analysis: This explains her symbolic meaning in classical literature.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 传说**嫦娥**是因为偷吃了长生不老药才飞到月亮上去的。
    * Pinyin: Chuánshuō **Cháng'é** shì yīnwèi tōu chī le chángshēngbùlǎo yào cái fēi dào yuèliàng shàngqù de.
    * English: Legend says that Chang'e flew to the moon because she stole and ate the elixir of immortality.
    * Analysis: This sentence refers to an alternative, less flattering version of the myth where she acts out of selfishness rather than sacrifice. It's good to be aware of different tellings.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 这个舞蹈演员扮演的**嫦娥**真是太美了，宛如仙女下凡。
    * Pinyin: Zhège wǔdǎo yǎnyuán bànyǎn de **Cháng'é** zhēnshi tài měi le, wǎnrú xiānnǚ xiàfán.
    * English: The Chang'e portrayed by this dancer is so beautiful, just like a goddess descending to the mortal world.
    * Analysis: Here, "Chang'e" is a role in a performance, highlighting her place in the performing arts.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 妈妈，**嫦娥**在月亮上会孤单吗？
    * Pinyin: Māma, **Cháng'é** zài yuèliàng shàng huì gūdān ma?
    * English: Mom, is Chang'e lonely on the moon?
    * Analysis: A typical, innocent question a child might ask, touching upon the core theme of loneliness in her story.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这款月饼的包装盒上印着精美的**嫦娥**图案。
    * Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn yuèbǐng de bāozhuāng hé shàng yìn zhe jīngměi de **Cháng'é** tú'àn.
    * English: This box of mooncakes has a beautiful design of Chang'e printed on it.
    * Analysis: A very practical, commercial use of her image today.
  * **Example 9:**
    * **嫦娥**的传说体现了古人对月亮的想象和对永恒的追求。
    * Pinyin: **Cháng'é** de chuánshuō tǐxiàn le gǔrén duì yuèliàng de xiǎngxiàng hé duì yǒnghéng de zhuīqiú.
    * English: The legend of Chang'e reflects the ancient people's imagination about the moon and their pursuit of eternity.
    * Analysis: A more formal, academic sentence explaining the cultural significance of the myth.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 如果没有后羿，**嫦娥**的命运会完全不同。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu Hòu Yì, **Cháng'é** de mìngyùn huì wánquán bùtóng.
    * English: If there were no Hou Yi, Chang'e's fate would have been completely different.
    * Analysis: This sentence connects Chang'e to the other key figure in her story, showing their fates are intertwined.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Not a "Fairy Tale":** For English speakers, it's easy to dismiss this as a simple "fairy tale." However, it's a foundational myth central to Chinese culture, much like the myths of ancient Greece are to Western civilization. It informs art, holidays, and even national projects.
  * **Goddess vs. Immortal:** While often called a "goddess," it's more precise to see her as a mortal who became an immortal celestial being. She isn't worshipped for power or intervention like deities such as [[观音]] (Guānyīn). She is revered as a cultural symbol.
  * **Pronunciation:** The tones are crucial. It's **Cháng'é** (second tone, second tone - a rising sound for both syllables), not "Chang-E" as often anglicized. Practicing the rising tones is key to sounding authentic.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[zhongqiujie|中秋节]]** (Zhōngqiūjié) - The Mid-Autumn Festival. Chang'e's story is the origin myth for this major holiday.
  * **[[houyi|后羿]]** (Hòu Yì) - Chang'e's heroic husband who shot down the nine suns.
  * **[[yuebing|月饼]]** (yuèbǐng) - Mooncakes, the essential food eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival to honor Chang'e.
  * **[[yutu|玉兔]]** (Yùtù) - The Jade Rabbit, her only companion on the moon.
  * **[[changebenyue|嫦娥奔月]]** (Cháng'é bèn yuè) - A four-character idiom meaning "Chang'e flies to the moon," which encapsulates her entire story.
  * **[[shenhua|神话]]** (shénhuà) - Mythology. The genre to which the story of Chang'e belongs.
  * **[[yueliang|月亮]]** (yuèliàng) - The Moon, her celestial home.
  * **[[changshengbulao|长生不老]]** (cháng shēng bù lǎo) - Immortality; the effect of the elixir she drank.
  * **[[guanghangong|广寒宫]]** (Guǎnghán Gōng) - The "Palace of Vast Cold," the mythical name of Chang'e's lonely palace on the moon.