In China, the legend of Mid-Autumn, also known as the inspiration of many great works, is familiar to most Chinese citizens. There are many versions, all of which focus on the love story between Chang'e and Hou Yi. Here is the most acceptable one:
The story began in 2170 BC. At that time there were ten suns, showing up in the sky every day in turn. But one day, the ten suns shown up together and burnt the ground. No crops could survive. People suffered desperation with extreme heat and widespread starvation. Hou Yi, a distinguished archer, decided to shoot nine suns down, just leaving one to benefit mankind. After his success, he became famous and honored as a hero. To award for what he had done, Jade Emperor gave him an elixir which could keep people alive forever. Hou Yi had a beautiful wife named Chang'e and he loved her so much that he didn't take the pill immediately, although Jade Emperor told him not to hesitate to swallow the elixir. He gave the elixir to Chang'e and let her store it in a safe place. Hou Yi had many apprentices. One of his prentices named Peng accidentally knew the secret. He decided to steal the elixir. So he pretended to be sick in order to stay at home when Hou Yi and the other apprentices went out to work. Peng intruded into Chang'e's room and forced her to give him the elixir. Chang'e knew that she was not able to defeat Peng. So she swallowed the pill. Suddenly she found herself floating in the air, and flying further and further. She did not want to leave her husband, so she stopped at the moon which she thought was the closest place to the earth. Hou Yi was very angry and painful when he came home and knew what had happened. He looked up to the sky at night and called her name. He even tried to run to reach the moon, but finally in vain. Thus the beloved couples were separated saddly. There was a jade rabbit on the moon and she was moved by the love between Chang'e and Hou Yi. So the lovely jade rabbit worked hard every day to make a pill for Chang'e in order that she could return to the earth. Therefore it is said that if you look up at the moon at Mid-Autumn day, you will see a woman and a rabbit, and the rabbit was making elixir. Jade Emperor was moved by their touching love story so he gave permission to let the couple meet on the 15th day of the eighth month every year in Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon was full and beautiful. So far the sentimental love story has finished. Maybe you can know better about the festival and its reunion theme.