“We were doomed from the start. A lost cause. A losing battle. And yet, in that narrow instant, I didn't give a single fuck.”
Background:
-Julie Johnson, Erasing Faith
Love grows and expands us like nothing else. Nothing is as deadly as the love of a powerful man. Star-crossed lovers are two people who care deeply for each other; however, their love is doomed by the stars and they cannot be together. This couple is considered ill-fated. The term star-crossed lovers was first coined by William Shakespeare in the popular play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. China too has a folk story about star-crossed lovers. The centuries-old Four Great Chinese Folktales; “The Butterfly Lovers”, “Legend of the White Snake”, “Lady Meng Jiang’s Bitter Weeping Brings Down the Great Wall” and “Legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl,” remain deeply popular in China today. Especially the “Cowherd and the Weaver Girl” — now an annual festival on Lover’s Day, China’s Valentine’s Day. This folktale tells how the Milky Way was created.
Seven princesses lived in the celestial court of the Jade Emperor. Each of the princesses had their own responsibility and duty. The youngest princesses had to pluck clouds from the sky and spin them into the softest robes. The youngest was perfect in her work but was bored with her craft and longed for new inspiration. So she asked Queen Mother to grant her permission to visit Earth for creativity. The Queen allowed her to see only by accompanying her with her sisters to protect her from earthy dangers and gave them special robes to fly between Heaven and Earth.
On the journey to Earth, the weaver was in awe of the rolling hills and rivers, and the sisters decided to swim in one of the glittering streams. The weaver dreamt about staying forever. Meanwhile, a lone cowherd was on the riverbank sweeping his parent's grave and speaking with his only companion- a stoic bull who listened patiently to the cowherd's sorrows. As the cowherd saw the weaver's beauty, he forgot his routine. His lonely lifestyle had made him timid. The bull understood the cowherd's loneliness and advised him to introduce himself to the weaver. The princesses flew away in fear as the cowherd approached - leaving their dreaming youngest sister behind. The cowherd gained the trust of the weaver through his kindness and the pair began exploring the countryside. She was struck by his caring nature, and he learned to see the world's wonder through her eyes. Before long, the two had fallen deeply in love.
The weaver and cowherd lived a prosperous life. Their farm flourished and the weaver learned to live a natural life on earth. As time passed, the pair were blessed with two children, but their bull was getting old. Before the bull died, he implored the family to keep his hide and use its magic in their time of need. The husband was in grief after losing his long companion and the weaver's mind turned to her other family in heaven. So she swept into her old home. But no one seemed to be surprised by her presence after a long time. as a year on Earth was merely a day in Heaven. As Weaver talked about her normal life on Earth with her husband and children, the Queen was enraged to see her waste her love on humans. She did not let the weaver return to Earth.
Below the cowherd trembled, but he also remembered the bull's final word. So hastily placing each child in a basket, he draped the bull's pelt over his back and hurtled upwards. Above the clouds, each lover attempted to wade through the surging stars. But no matter how hard they struggled, the gulf between them only grew wider. Day after day, the Queen's mother watched without pity. Years passed, and the weaver and the cowherd had no one, except the passing magpies to cheer them on. Finally, their love moved the Queen Mother's heart while she couldn't forgive her granddaughter entirely, the Queen Mother would allow the weaver to meet her earthly family once a year. And so, in late summer, the magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way, reuniting the weaver and the cowherd.
At this time of year, millions of people in East and Southeast Asian countries tell similar tales of these star-crossed lovers, celebrating their annual reunion. Today, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year is known as the Qixi Festival in China, which celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and the weaver girl. It is also observed as the lover’s day when the girls often go to the temple to pray for their dexterity in needlework and the prospect of marrying a good husband.
At this time of year, millions of people in East and Southeast Asian countries tell similar tales of these star-crossed lovers, celebrating their annual reunion. Today, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year is known as the Qixi Festival in China, which celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and the weaver girl. It is also observed as the lover’s day when the girls often go to the temple to pray for their dexterity in needlework and the prospect of marrying a good husband.
