forced Chang'er to give him the elixir. Without hesitating, Chang'er picked up the elixir and drank 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.

Ⅲ. Story of the Moon Cake

There is a story about the moon cake. During the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolians. Officials from the preceding Song Dynasty (960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set to organize a rebellion. The leaders of the rebellion, as the Mid-Autumn Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. In each moon cake was a message with the outline of the uprising. On the night of the Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Since then, moon cakes became a festive specialty during the Mid-Autumn Festival.