Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (牛郎[niúláng]) alias Cowherd, living by himself herding cattle. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (织女[zhīnǚ]) alias Weaving Maid fell in love with him, came down secretly to earth and married him. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven discovered the truth and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaving Maid back home.
Helped by the celestial cattle, the Cowherd flew to heaven with his son and daughter. As he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins, made a stroke, and right in front of the Cowherd appeared a billowy river (the Milky Way) hence separating him forever from his wife standing on the opposite bank. Their loyalty to love touched magpies which built a bridge for the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid to reunite. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet every year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (七夕 [qīxī]) or Double Seven Festival.
Nowadays, while gazing up at the Milky Way people would look for one bright star on each bank of it, one star in the constellation of Aquila - identified as Niulang (牛郎[niúláng]) - the other being the star Vega - identified as Zhinu (织女[zhīnǚ]).
What do these two legends have in common?
The etymology of the word « legend » means « to gather, to select, to read » in Latin (legere) and « to gather, to say » in Greek (legein).
These two legends are oral and written transmission of cultural values and traditions. Their function is to teach the listener not only a tale of creation, a theme, or a moral value but to offer the listener a philosophy of life. In this respect, they are equal in value and legitimacy. They also both eulogize the yearning of true love when stifled by social codes. In this respect they are equally filled with human feelings.
