In ancient legends, the Jade Rabbit silently accompanied the lonely Chang’e Fairy in the Moon Palace, spending one cold and long day and night after another. On the occasion of the birthday of the Queen Mother, she felt compassion and sent Taibai Jinxing to the Moon Palace, inviting Chang’e to perform a dance in the Heavenly Palace to entertain. Although Chang’e was unwilling, she dared not disobey the mandate of heaven. Before leaving, she warned the Jade Rabbit not to leave, and then embarked on a journey alone to the Heavenly Palace, which lasted for three days. Originally, the Queen Mother intended to have a grand banquet with guests for three days, and she would need Chang’e dance to entertain them every day.
On the first day, the Jade Rabbit was able to keep its promise, but the next day it couldn’t resist the temptation of worldly prosperity and secretly descended to the picturesque Autumn Mountain. Unexpectedly, as soon as it landed, it was attacked by an eagle that had become refined and extremely fierce, and was kidnapped. At this critical moment, a sharp arrow pierced through the sky and hit the eagle’s vital spot, causing it to scream in agony. It released its claws and the jade rabbit fell into the valley. At this moment of life and death, a pair of solid arms steadily caught the startled Jade Rabbit.
The one who saved the Jade Rabbit was a handsome hunter named Asong, who was alone but kind-hearted. After bringing the jade rabbit back to the cabin in the forest, he gently comforted it and promised to bring back fresh grass when going hunting. However, when Asong returned, he was pleasantly surprised to find smoke rising from the kitchen, and a pure and beautiful girl standing by the stove, who was transformed from a jade rabbit and called herself Xiaoyu. The two of them felt like old friends at first sight, quickly got to know and love each other, tied the knot, and lived a happy and peaceful life in the vast forest.
However, the good times did not last long. The injured and healed eagle unexpectedly discovered their whereabouts and vowed revenge. Xiaoyu, with the medical skills she learned in the Moon Palace, often goes down the mountain to treat villagers and is deeply loved. One day, the eagle launched another attack while Xiaoyu was descending the mountain, attempting to kill her and retaliate against the villagers. Xiaoyu was fearless in the face of danger, using her intelligence to win, and died with the eagle. Eventually, she transformed into a giant stone resembling a jade rabbit on the top of Qiushan Mountain, forever guarding the direction of the rising moon.
Upon Asong’s return, he saw a jade rabbit statue, heartbroken and soon following Xiaoyu. The villagers built a temple next to the giant stone to commemorate Xiaoyu’s bravery and kindness, and would go to worship on the night of the full moon. The fairy maidens in the sky were also moved by Xiaoyu’s deeds, and occasionally secretly descended to the top of the Autumn Mountain to play in the Heaven Reliant Lake, enjoying this fairyland on earth.
Chang’e, who is far away in the Moon Palace, cannot descend to earth without permission. However, every Mid Autumn Festival night, when the full moon hangs high, she stands closest to the “Jade Rabbit Gazing at the Moon” in the Moon Palace, gazing deeply at that distant boulder. Her heart is filled with longing and mourning for Xiaoyu, feeling sad and alone.
