Yue

Yuè (月) is a name for the Moon of the Earth in China.

Name Variants and History

What does the term mean, does it always have the same meaning - was it changed over time.

Dark Spots on the Moon

In China, there is a huge variety of mythologies connected to the dark and bright spots on the Moon: in addition to the rabbit, there is also the idea of a toad or a crab. Instead of a man, a princess is seen there.

There are various legends about the woman in the moon and the man in the moon in East Asia: according to one legend, Chang'e consumed an elixir of immortality that her husband had won for his archery skills; according to another, she is a moon princess or moon goddess who visited Earth briefly but is actually immortal and belongs on the moon. She lives with the Jade Rabbit in a palace on the moon. Wu Gang, the woodcutter, was condemned to cut down a certain olive tree on the moon, which, to his chagrin, has self-healing powers and always grows back.

In any case, the person on the moon is linked to eternity, and that must be quite lonely in the long run, because eternity is quite long – especially towards the end.

In Buddhism, the moon is a symbol of truth and virtue, as these actually last relatively long (eternally).

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  The Jade Hare who makes the elixir of Life on the Moon (China).

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  The Moon Toad (China).

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  The Moon Crab (China)

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  Change'e, the immortal lady who flew to the Moon (China).

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  Wu Gang, The immortal Lumberjack on the Moon (China).

Phases of the Moon

Is there a scientific or mythological interpretation for the phases of the moon?

Lunar Eclipse

explanation/ mythology/ rituals

Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

References

• References (general)