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Changxi is a Chinese lunar deity worshipped in traditional Chinese folk religion. An ancient goddess form ancient times, the earliest historical information on Changxi came from the first copies of 'Shan Hai Jing', which have existed since the 4th century BCE.<br/><br/> Alongside the sun goddess Xihe, Changxi was one of the two wives of Di Jun, God of the Eastern Heaven. She gave birth to twelve moon daughters, who would each complete a full journey across the heavens every night. Her significance in the Chinese pantheon would wane over time, until she was 'demoted to a minor position'.<br/><br/> Changxi and Xihe are a representation of Yin and Yang, with Xihe's ten suns and Changxi's twelve moons reflecting the Chinese solar and lunar calenders.
Chang'e or Chang-o, originally known as Heng'e, is the Chinese goddess of the moon. There are many tales and legends about her in Chinese mythology and folk religion, usually involving her husband Houyi, the elixir of life and the moon, and representing the origin of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.<br/><br/> The general tale goes that in the distant past, ten suns had risen up into the sky to scorch the earth and cause great calamity for the people. The suns were, in some versions of the story, the children of the Jade Emperor, and so he sent the immortal archer Hou Yi to stop their mischief. Hou Yi instead shot down nine of them, leaivng only one in the sky, and therefore was punished by being made mortal and sent down to the earth, where he lived with his wife, Chang'e. In other versions of the tale, he was mortal at first, and freely given the elixir of immortality as a reward for his efforts.<br/><br/> Whatever version of the story, he ends up with the elixir of immortality in his care, but does not consume it right away, wishing to share it with Chang'e. However, while Hou Yi was away, his apprentice Fengmeng, broke into the house and attempted to forcefuly steal the elixir. Chang'e escaped his wrath by consuming the elixir herself, becoming immortal and flying up towards the heavens, eventually landing on the moon. Hou Yi became greatly saddened at what had occurred, and gave sacrifices of fruits and cakes to her memory, and thus the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival came to be, a celebration that still occurs on the full moon night of the eighth lunar month.
Chang'e or Chang-o, originally known as Heng'e, is the Chinese goddess of the moon. There are many tales and legends about her in Chinese mythology and folk religion, usually involving her husband Houyi, the elixir of life and the moon, and representing the origin of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.<br/><br/> The general tale goes that in the distant past, ten suns had risen up into the sky to scorch the earth and cause great calamity for the people. The suns were, in some versions of the story, the children of the Jade Emperor, and so he sent the immortal archer Hou Yi to stop their mischief. Hou Yi instead shot down nine of them, leaivng only one in the sky, and therefore was punished by being made mortal and sent down to the earth, where he lived with his wife, Chang'e. In other versions of the tale, he was mortal at first, and freely given the elixir of immortality as a reward for his efforts.<br/><br/> Whatever version of the story, he ends up with the elixir of immortality in his care, but does not consume it right away, wishing to share it with Chang'e. However, while Hou Yi was away, his apprentice Fengmeng, broke into the house and attempted to forcefuly steal the elixir. Chang'e escaped his wrath by consuming the elixir herself, becoming immortal and flying up towards the heavens, eventually landing on the moon. Hou Yi became greatly saddened at what had occurred, and gave sacrifices of fruits and cakes to her memory, and thus the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival came to be, a celebration that still occurs on the full moon night of the eighth lunar month.
Kara Khoto city was founded in 1032 and became a thriving center of Tangut Empire trade in the 11th century. There are remains of 30-foot (9.1 m)-high ramparts and 12-foot (3.7 m)-thick outer walls. The outer walls ran for some 421 m (1,381 ft) east-west by 374 m (1,227 ft) north-south.<br/><br/> The walled fortress was first taken by Genghis Khan in 1226, but—contrary to a widely circulated misunderstanding—the city continued to flourish under Mongol overlordship. During Kublai Khan's time, the city was expanded, reaching a size three times bigger than during the Tangut Empire. Togoontemur Khan concentrated his preparation for reconquest of China at Khara-Khoto. The city was located on the crossroads connecting Karakorum, Xanadu and Kumul.<br/><br/> In The Travels of Marco Polo, Marco Polo describes a visit to a city called Etzina or Edzina, which has been identified with Khara-Khoto.