Three Residents of the Moon Palace You Should Meet

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon glows at its fullest, casting a luminous veil over the earth. For thousands of years, poets and dreamers have looked beyond its radiant beauty, envisioning a palace in the heavens where mythical beings dwell. In the tales celebrated on stage by Shen Yun, there are three you should meet—Chang’e, Wu Gang, and the Jade Rabbit.

Chang’e — The Lady of the Moon

Chang’e, the immortal goddess of the moon, has long embodied grace and longing. Her husband Hou Yi once saved humanity by shooting down nine suns, but as glory turned to pride, the heavens decreed that only Chang’e might ascend.

Thus she came to dwell alone in the Moon Palace, her form bathed in silvery light. Through the centuries, poets imagined her silhouette drifting across the luminous disk, a vision of eternal beauty touched by solitude, watching silently over the mortal world.

Wu Gang — The Eternal Woodcutter

Long ago, there was a woodcutter named Wu Gang who vowed to cultivate himself in pursuit of immortality. Yet when the true opportunity came, he grew idle and careless, never practicing with sincerity, and often committing mistakes. This angered the heavenly Jade Emperor, who banished Wu Gang to the Moon Palace as punishment.

Within the moon’s shadows, many discern his figure beside a towering osmanthus tree. Condemned to an endless task, Wu Gang swings his axe against the enchanted trunk, yet each dent is regenerated in an instant. And so he remains through the ages, a solitary fixture of the Moon Palace, accompanied by the fragrance of blossoms that never fade. His ceaseless labor has become part of the moon’s mystery—a symbol of persistence, regret, and eternity, forever etched into its glow.

The Jade Rabbit — Guardian of Purity

Beside Chang’e dwells a gentler spirit—the White Jade Rabbit. In ancient legend, the rabbit once compassionately offered to give up its life for another. Moved by such purity, the heavenly emperor bestowed immortality, granting it a place in the Moon Palace.

There it pounds celestial herbs with a mortar and pestle, preparing elixirs under the osmanthus tree. On clear nights, its outline may be seen upon the moon’s face, a quiet symbol of loyalty and devotion, keeping watch beside the Lady of the Moon.

Together, these three residents—Chang’e, Wu Gang, and the Jade Rabbit—fill the Mid-Autumn moon with mystery and wonder. Their legends shimmer in the moon’s glow, carrying whispers of immortality, longing, and grace. As we lift our gaze each autumn night, we glimpse not just a glowing orb in the sky, but a timeless palace of beauty and myth.