The Tale of Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy
BackOnce upon a time, in ancient China, there lived a poor but kind-hearted young man named Dong Yong. After his father passed away, Dong Yong was left with a heavy debt and had to sell himself as a servant to repay it. Despite his hardships, Dong Yong remained filial and hardworking, earning the admiration of many in his village.
One day, as Dong Yong was working in the fields, the Jade Emperor's seventh daughter, a celestial fairy named Zhinü, looked down from the heavens and saw his plight. Moved by his devotion and kindness, she decided to descend to Earth to help him. Disguising herself as a mortal woman, Zhinü approached Dong Yong and offered her assistance. Grateful and unaware of her true identity, Dong Yong accepted her help.
Together, they toiled in the fields, and Zhinü's celestial abilities allowed them to complete tasks that would have taken months in just a few days. Their cooperation and mutual respect soon blossomed into love, and they decided to marry. The villagers were astonished by the couple's rapid progress and harmonious relationship, but they celebrated their union with joy.
However, their happiness was short-lived. The Jade Emperor, discovering his daughter's absence, was furious. He sent celestial soldiers to bring Zhinü back to the heavens. On the day of her departure, Zhinü tearfully revealed her true identity to Dong Yong. Heartbroken but understanding, Dong Yong bid her farewell, knowing that their love was destined to be fleeting.
As Zhinü ascended to the heavens, she promised Dong Yong that she would find a way to be with him again. The Jade Emperor, witnessing his daughter's sorrow and the depth of their love, was moved by their devotion. He decided to allow Zhinü to visit Dong Yong once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, a day that would come to be known as Qixi, or the Double Seventh Festival.
On this special day, magpies would form a bridge across the Milky Way, reuniting the lovers for a brief moment each year. Dong Yong and Zhinü's love story became a symbol of enduring love and devotion, celebrated by generations to come.
The tale of Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy is not just a story of love but also a testament to the virtues of kindness, hard work, and filial piety. It reminds us that true love can transcend the boundaries of time and space, and that even the heavens can be moved by the sincerity of the human heart.
Every year, on the night of Qixi, couples gaze up at the sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magpie bridge and the reunion of the star-crossed lovers. The story of Dong Yong and Zhinü continues to inspire and touch the hearts of those who hear it, a timeless reminder of the power of love and the importance of staying true to one's virtues.