Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival or mythology… China is full of fantastic legends and all kinds of stories. But did you know that these legends have inspired many cult references? Cartoons, manga, movies or even novels: Chinese mythology invades our cultural references and has offered us some very good nuggets!
On the occasion of the release of Daughter of the Moon Goddess May 3 from the Stardust collection, Madmoizelle tells you about three Chinese legends who have inspired works rooted in our pop culture.
The Legend of the Monkey King: Sun Wonkung or Sangoku?
Authors of world famous works are regularly inspired by fairy tales and legends to build their character. And that’s exactly what Akira Toriyama did Dragonball Z and especially for the character of Sangoku.
There is a widespread legend in China about the Monkey King, also called Sun Wonkung. This hatched from a stone egg made of rock and blood of a god. He trained extensively in martial arts and acquired the Bâton Cerclé d’Or.
Much later, he embarks on a journey told in a tale, Journey to the West where he goes in search of the sacred scriptures of Buddha, and returns to present them to the emperor after fourteen years of research.
We clearly find these references in the character of Son Goku and the story of Dragonball Z. A little boy with a monkey’s tail, who goes in search of the seven crystal balls, still armed with his stick.
The Huan legend behind a badass princess
Huan is a young warrior who takes her father’s place to fight and serve his empire. She spent twelve years in the army and won the admiration of the people, few of whom knew she was a woman then. And yes, wielding a sword wasn’t for people with wombs at the time.
After her well-deserved retirement, Huan returns to her job as a weaver. She is coveted by the emperor who wishes to marry her. Finding no happiness in forever bonding with one man, she’d rather kill herself than see her freedom slip through her fingers.
Does this legend remind you of anything? Yes, that’s what inspired Mulan ! Although the story knows some differences from the original legend, the warrior Huan is represented by the heroine who wants to fight “Like a man”. And bad news: in Chinese legend, Mushu does not exist. Terrible.
The moon and immortality – bad combination
The moon is an important symbol in Chinese history and mythology. It is celebrated there during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the time of year when it is at its brightest, and is also the center of a famous legend.
Chang’e, goddess of the moon is condemned to live on the star after swallowing an elixir of immortality. There are several versions. Some say Chang’e stole the elixir, while others say she swallowed it to save the people of Earth.
The common version explains that Yi, her husband, receives from the Great King of the Gods, Huangdi, a pill of immortality to congratulate him for defeating the three suns. Chang’e, unable to resist his curiosity and desire to become immortal, steals the pill and swallows it.
An angry Huangdi decides to punish her for her crime and sends Chang’e to live on the moon. And it is from this version of the legend that Sue Lynn Tan was inspired to write The daughter of the Moon Goddess.
What is “The Daughter of the Moon Goddess” about?
The heroine, Xingyin, is the daughter of the Moon Goddess. Mothered by her, they are condemned to live alone on the moon in exile by the Celestial Emperor. The Goddess, in fact, is accused of having stolen the elixir of immortality from the Celestial Emperor himself. To avoid reprisals, the Goddess decides to keep the existence of her daughter Xingyin a secret.
But Xingyin has powers and her magic is slowly resurfacing. To protect her and not be identified, her mother then asks her to leave. She then embarks on a long journey to the Celestial Kingdom where, incognito, she meets the emperor’s son with whom she forges very strong ties. She learns to handle a bow and arrow, enlists in the army and faces the worst creatures. Despite all her adventures, Xingyin gives herself only one mission: to return to save her mother as soon as possible when she is strong enough.
A fantastic world immersed in the magical universe of Chinese legends
Passionate about fantasy and magical worlds, Sue Lynn Tan then tells the story of Xingyin by immersing you in the culture of Chinese legends. Dragons, power, love and magic intertwine in this fantasy novel. This is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in Chinese myths. But also to experience the story of a pretty badass girl!
Madmoizelle gives you an appointment on May 3 to discover Daughter of the Moon Goddess from the Stardust collection published by Hugo Publishing.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
