Chinese Myth: CowHerd and WEaver Girl
It’s double seven (7th Day of the 7th Month on the Chinese Calendar where Chinese will celebrate Seventh Evening/Qixi Festival (Chinese: “七夕节”, Pinyin: Qī xī jié). A unique Chinese counterpart to Valentine’s Day emerges, albeit with a tinge of melancholy in contrast to the Western narrative of valiant love. Rooted in a distinct tale, as shared by generations past, at least the ones I heard from my parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. Every year they tell how, Niu Lang (Chinese: 牛郎; pinyin: niú láng) and his wife, Zhi Nu (Chinese: 织女/織女; pinyin: zhī nǚ) meet.
Once upon a time, there were seven goddesses who lived in heaven. They were all sisters, daughters of the Heavenly Emperor and Empress. And ZhiNu was one of them. It was forbidden for them to go to the mortal realm but one day, they sneakily took a trip to the mortal world and decided to bathe together in a lake which was located near a cowherd’s home. They laughed and splashed water around and their actions caught a cowherd’s attention, NiuLang who was passing by, saw them and took one of the daughter’s fairy clothing, imbued with special powers, enabled her to fly back/returned to the Heavens.
Without it, she was stranded while all her sister went back to Heavens.
NiuLang proposed a trade: her hand in marriage in exchange for the enchanted fairy clothing. ZhiNu agreed and as promised after their marriage, NiuLang returned her fairy clothing. Over time, ZhiNu’s heart warmed to him, and they bore two beautiful children. Content in the mortal realm, she chose to stay instead of going back to the Heavens.
While she was in the mortal realm, the other sisters became worried about her because it was illegal for a goddess to marry a mortal man. However, no matter how hard they tried to hide it, her absence was noticed by her mother, the Empress of Heavens. She was ordered back to the Heavenly realm to continue her weaving duties.
She didn’t want to part but her duties were important as well. And she was threatened by the Empress that if she didn’t leave, she would punish the moral, NiuLang.
Heavy hearted, ZhiNu left, leaving behind her husband and children.
Saddened by her parting, NiuLang lamented his fate and suddenly his ox started speaking and helped him in his journey to go to the Heavens to reunite with ZhiNu. However, his plans failed as the Empress found out and using her ‘hairpin’ she drew a rift/river and separated the pair from ever meeting again but the cowherd did not give up. Together with ZhiNu’s six other sisters, he begged the Empress to allow them to meet again.
His determination softened her heart and allowed the couple to meet every 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Many magpies came together on this day, to form a bridge for them to see each other. Once they reunite, it starts to rain because both lovers and the magpies are sad as their meeting was both important yet short.
There are many variations to the story but essential the story roughly will go like this.
Designated as the Qixi Festival, this day holds China’s most romantic and traditional essence, now dubbed the Chinese Valentine’s Day. This year, it falls on August 22th in the Gregorian calendar. As NiuLang and ZhiNu reunite around this time, people usually use this day/date to pray/offer prayers for potential connections or a safe reunion. Admirable is NiuLang’s enduring pursuit of ZhiNu despite numerous obstacles. His tenacity teaches us not to falter in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
See you next time.
P.s Picture is drawn personally by me (Serein Choo) Please do not use without permission.
