Version I:

There once was a great archer named Hou-Yi. He had a beautiful and lovely wife named Chang-Er. One day, the emperor, having heard of Hou-Yi's great archery skills, summoned his help. At that time, there were 10 suns in the sky, and one day they all aligned, and were baking the Earth, threatening all life. The emperor asked that Hou-Yi use his unbeatable archery skills to shoot down all but one sun.

Hou-Yi set out to accomplish this, and was very successful, shooting down 9 suns and leaving just one, thus saving the planet. To reward him, the emperor gave him a magic pill that would give him eternal life. But told Hou-Yi that he would have to take a whole year to fast and meditate to get himself ready before taking the pill. Hou-Yi went home and hid the pill under his pillow.

One day, while Hou-Yi was out answering the emperor's summon again, Chang-Er found the pill and swallowed it. She immediately floated off to the moon, where she was met by the hare, who lives on the moon. Once there, Chang-Er coughed up part of the pill. Heartbroken, Hou-Yi ordered the bunny to take that part of the pill and try to replicate it so that the couple can be joined together. To this day, if one looks closely at the moon, one can see the bunny, stomping medicine, trying to replicate the pill.

The Moon Festival is the only day of the year that Hou-Yi and his wife, Chang-Er can be reunited. That is why that is the one day of the year which the moon shines the brightest.

Version II:

A long, long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth. Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky like smoldering volcanoes. The trees and grass were scorched. The land was cracked and parched, and rivers were dried. Many people died of hunger and thirst.

The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou Yi arrived, he took out his red bow and white arrows and shot down nine suns one after another. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. Life was restored and humanity was saved.

One day, a charming young woman Chang'er made her way home from a stream, holding a bamboo container. A young man came forward, asking for a drink. When she saw the red bow and white arrows hanging round his belt, Chang'er realized that he was their savior, Hou Yi. Inviting him to drink, Chang'er plucked a beautiful flower and gave it to him as a token of respect. Hou Yi, in turn, selected a beautiful silver fox fur as his gift for her. This meeting kindled the spark of their love. And soon after that, they got married.

A mortal's life is limited, of course. So in order to enjoy his happy life with Chang'er forever, Hou Yi decided to look for an elixir of life. He went to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother lived.

Out of respect for the good deeds he had done, the Western Queen Mother rewarded Hou Yi with the elixir, a fine powder made from kernels of fruit which grew on the tree of eternity. At the same time, she told him that if he and his wife shared the elixir, they would both enjoy eternal life; but if only one of them took it, that one would ascend to Heaven and become immortal.

Hou Yi returned home and told his wife all that had happened and they decided to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon was full and bright.

A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng overheard their plan. He wished Hou Yi an early death so that he could drink the elixir himself and become immortal. His opportunity finally arrived. One day, when the full moon is rising, Hou Yi was on his way home from hunting. Feng Meng killed him. The murderer then ran to Hou Yi's home and forced Chang'er to give him the elixir. Without hesitating, Chang'er picked up the elixir and drunk it all.

Overcome with grief, Chang'er rushed to her dead husband's side, weeping bitterly. Soon the elixir began to have its effect and Chang'er felt herself being lifted towards Heaven.

Chang'er decided to live on the moon because it was the nearest to the earth. There she lived a simple and contented life. Even though she was in Heaven, her heart remained in the world of mortals. Never did she forget the deep love she had for Hou Yi and the love she felt for the people who had shared their sadness and happiness.

It is said that Chang'er transformed herself into brilliant moonlight and descended to earth to offer good fortune. Thus, couples swear their mutual love under the full moon while separated lovers pray for reunion under the full moon.

Another legend explained the role of the Old Man on the Moon, the Divine Match-maker. The Chinese believed that marriages were made in Heaven but prepared on the moon. The Old Man on the Moon tied the feet of young men and women with red cords for marriages. Thus a maiden made offerings and prayed to him during the Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping that some day she would ride in the red bridal sedan chair.