Chang'e Flying to the Moon is a famous ancient Chinese myth, originating from the Huainanzi, Chapter of Lanmingxun. According to legend, Hou Yi shot down nine suns, and the Queen Mother of the West gave him an elixir of immortality. His wife, Chang'e, secretly consumed it, and her body became light, allowing her to ascend and fly to the moon palace. The deeper meaning of this idiom often refers to a woman becoming an immortal or ascending to heaven, and it also metaphorically describes a woman distancing herself from the mundane world in pursuit of purity, or depicts a sudden departure without any news. In cultural context, Chang'e Flying to the Moon embodies ancient people's worship of the moon, their yearning for eternal life, and the mysterious connection between women and the moon. It is commonly used in literary works to describe a woman who is transcendent and aloof, or to refer to someone who suddenly disappears. In emotional tone, it carries both a romantic and mysterious beauty, as well as a sense of loneliness and desolation, often evoking reflections on parting and solitude.
📝 Example
After graduation, she went abroad like Chang'e flying to the moon, and there has been no news of her since. (A metaphor for a sudden departure with no further contact.)
In mythology, after Chang'e flew to the moon, she lived alone in the Guanghan Palace with only the Jade Rabbit for company, appearing especially lonely. (Refers to ascending to the moon palace, and also describes loneliness and coldness.)