Changxi () or Changyi () is a Chinese lunar goddess worshiped in the traditional Chinese pantheon. Known from ancient times, the earliest historical information on Changxi can be traced back to the ''

Classic of Mountains and Seas The ''Classic of Mountains and Seas'', also known as ''Shanhai jing'' (), formerly romanized as the ''Shan-hai Ching'', is a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. Early versions of the text may have existed si ...

'' (''Shan-hai Ching''). She is the wife of

Di Jun Di Jun () also known as Emperor Jun is one of the ancient supreme deities of China, now known primarily through five chapters of the ''Shanhaijing'' (Yang 2005, 97). Di Jun had two wives, or consorts: Xihe (deity), Xihe and Changxi, and Di Jun figur ...

and the mother of twelve

moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...

s. Greek equivalent is

Selene In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Selene (; , meaning "Moon")''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη is the goddess and personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene (), she is traditionally the daughter ...

History

The earliest known mention of Changxi is made in the mythic text '' The Canon of the Mountains and Seas'', romanised as ''Shan-hai Ching''. A single line in it reads: "The Emperor Jun married Changxi, who gave birth to twelve Moons."

Mythology

The God of the Eastern Sky

had two wives, including Changxi, who was regarded as his first wife Xihe's western counterpart; while Xihe gave birth to suns, Changxi bore twelve unique moon daughters that would complete a full journey across the heavens every day. She bathed her children in a water pool. Described as an "important early goddess", her significance amongst the deities gradually waned and she was eventually "demoted to a minor position".

Legacy

Together, Xihe and Changxi are a representation of ''

yin yang Originating in Chinese philosophy, yin and yang (, ), also yinyang or yin-yang, is the concept of opposite cosmic principles or forces that interact, interconnect, and perpetuate each other. Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary an ...

''. Xihe and her ten suns, and Changxi and her twelve moons represent the Chinese solar and lunar calendars respectively. Changxi is often confused with fellow lunar goddess

Chang'e Chang'e ( ; ), originally known as Heng'e (), is the goddess of the Moon and wife of Hou Yi, the great archer. Renowned for her beauty, Chang'e is also known for her ascending to the Moon with her pet Yu Tu, the Moon Rabbit and living in the Mo ...

. Sharron Gu attributes this to the similar features shared by the two names due to their similar pronunciations and being in the same word family. However, it is plausible that Chang'e and Changxi originated from the same lunar goddess.

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