Legend of Qi Zian and Qi Shan

The Legend of Qi Zian and Qi Shan.

The Legend of Sun and Moon.

Beyond man's memory, the gods dwelled high in the palace of the heavens.  As of this time, there was no day and night on the earth.  Instead, the sun shown throughout the day and the night, giving no distinction to either time.  Nothing on the earth or in the heavens was covered in the shroud of night.  There in the heavens lived the young man Qi Zian.  Qi Zian was to be wed to another spirit in the Celestial Palace.  A woman named Shan.  Zian and Shan both were from the noble respectable families of the spirits in those days.  They enjoyed each others company greatly.  Those in the heavens rejoiced over these tidings, and awaited a celestial marriage in the heavens.

But one young noble, a noble named Ru Ai despised their happiness.  He did not think that Qi Zian was a worthy suitor to the woman he loved.  So in a fit of jealousy, Ru Ai concocted an evil plan.  When the gathered host of the heavens assembled, no one noticed that Ru Ai was absent from the ceremony.  The two stood before the gathered assembly, and once their vows were complete, they vanished.  All were shocked at the horrific scene that had transpired before their very eyes.  No one knew what had happened to them.  All except for Ru Ai that is.  The ancient spell he used had sent Qi Zian to the moon, and had sent Qi Shan to the sun.  He did not know for sure it would do this, but he had removed his rival Qi Zian.  But he would soon realize, banishing Qi Zian and Qi Shan to the far reaches of the heavens would not benefit him any.  For Qi Shan was far away, bound to the sun.  He had loved Qi Shan, but now, she was out of his reach, for it was no simple feat for any spirit to go to either the sun or the moon.

All the heavens, and all the earth watched in awe, for the first time the sun set, and the moon chased after it.  The sun at day, and the moon and stars at night.   Sunrise after the night, followed by the day's sun setting at night, and the moon following behind.  The warmth of day grew, and all experienced the chill of night for the first time.

Ru Ai too experienced this, and his mind filled with questions caused him to seek out the knowledgeable elders of the Emperor of Heaven.  He confessed his foul deed, the deed which had begun to torment him.  The elders told him, that he was indeed right.  With Qi Zian bound to the Moon, he could never leave, as now he was the King of the Moon.  And likewise, Qi Shan was Queen of the Sun.  They theorized that both Qi Zian, and Qi Shan, in love as they were, began searching for each other right away.  Thus creating night and day.  The Emperor wished to condemn Ru Ai for his foolish and cruel vengeance, but the elders expressed their belief that the pain he was enduring was punishment enough.  No punishment could exceed the pain he must feel.  And Ru Ai, truly was conflicted by his conscience.  He was no longer the handsome man he had been.  Now Ru Ai, a young spirit, was haggard and worn.  Disheveled and distraught, he had no longer the bearing and refinement of the intellectual young lord he was.

The Emperor agreed with this wisdom, and allowed Ru Ai to go, free of punishment, save the pain he had wrought upon himself.  The Emperor then sent Qi Zian and Qi Shan knowledge of what had transpired, and officially made them the rulers of the sun and moon.

Qi Zian wrote back to the Emperor, demanding some sort of compensation for the punishment they did not deserve.  He explained that he and his servants looked across all the great expanse looking for his wife Qi Shan, but that neither he on the moon, nor his servants on the stars could find his dear Qi Shan.  The Emperor and his elders were deeply moved.  And so then, it was made possible for the sun and moon to meet in an eclipse.  During this time, Qi Zian and Qi Shan could spend time with each other, before continuing their duty as the Lord and Lady of the Moon and Sun.  Qi Zian was grateful to the Emperor and the elders for this and thanked him deeply, expressing his gladness at any opportunity to be with his beloved wife Qi Shan.  Qi Shan too was very appreciative.  It is said that the sun shines brighter when an eclipse draws near.

So Qi Zian, and Qi Shan roam the far expanses of the heavens, more often than not, separated by a great distance. Nevertheless, Qi Shan's bright sun continues to keep the earth warm, and Qi Zian provides the light of the moon and stars to the earth, to keep people safe in the darkness of the night.  Focused ever on seeing each other again, they still manage to satisfy their duty to the heavens and man.   A duty thrust upon them by the will and jealousy of a celestial scholar.  And Ru Ai, tormented by his heinous crime dwelled forever in the dark recesses of the earth.  Transformed by the gods, he became a roving spirit.  Forever bound to walk the earth, sharing his wisdom on what befalls those corrupted and blinded by jealousy.  And so the story goes.