Do you know that today is Chinese Valentine's Day- Qi Xi?
Legend of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu
As one of the Chinese four folk legends concerning love, the legend
of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu features the Double Seventh Festival.
It is said that Niu Lang was a cowboy who had a kind heart even though he was without living parents. Living with his brother and brother-in-law, he was maltreated. One day, after having been driven out of his home, an old man (in fact a supernatural being), guided him to the sick cattle from heaven. With great care from Niu Lang, the cattle recovered. In order to show gratitude to Niu Lang, the cow helped him get acquainted with Zhi Nu - a fairy from the heaven. They fell in love with each other and married to live a happy life with Niu Lang planting in the field while Zhi Nu did weaving at home. They were also magically given a boy and a girl. However, good times didn't last long because Zhi Nu's deeds were known by the king of the heaven who took her back to heaven. With the cow's help, Niu Lang flew to heaven along with his two children as they chased their wife and mother. It was just at that moment before he could reach Zhi Nu that the queen of the heaven created a huge river between them. Tears from the two flowed continuously so that even the queen was moved. As a result, she allowed them to meet only on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year.
Therefore, the day that Niu Lang and Zhi Nu meet is the present Double Seventh Festival.
It is said that Niu Lang was a cowboy who had a kind heart even though he was without living parents. Living with his brother and brother-in-law, he was maltreated. One day, after having been driven out of his home, an old man (in fact a supernatural being), guided him to the sick cattle from heaven. With great care from Niu Lang, the cattle recovered. In order to show gratitude to Niu Lang, the cow helped him get acquainted with Zhi Nu - a fairy from the heaven. They fell in love with each other and married to live a happy life with Niu Lang planting in the field while Zhi Nu did weaving at home. They were also magically given a boy and a girl. However, good times didn't last long because Zhi Nu's deeds were known by the king of the heaven who took her back to heaven. With the cow's help, Niu Lang flew to heaven along with his two children as they chased their wife and mother. It was just at that moment before he could reach Zhi Nu that the queen of the heaven created a huge river between them. Tears from the two flowed continuously so that even the queen was moved. As a result, she allowed them to meet only on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year.
Therefore, the day that Niu Lang and Zhi Nu meet is the present Double Seventh Festival.
Customs
While the customs of this festival varies according to the different
regions, the same hope is cherished by all.
The most prevalent custom is that of girls praying to Zhi Nu for
skillful hands for sewing. Because Zhi Nu is regarded as a beautiful woman deft
at weaving, in the evening of the festival, girls sew some articles to compete
with each other and prepare some delicious fruits to worship Zhi Nu in order to
be endowed with the masterly sewing skill. Not only hoping for this skill, they
also pray to have a sweet love.
In the rural regions, people usually see the meeting of Niu Lang and
Zhi Nu as two stars in the sky. At the same time, the old people tell the young
about this old love legend. Unfortunately, this is not popular in cities
nowadays.
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