Zhang Fei Apology

　　One day, when Houyi was out, Chang'e secretly swallowed the potion（一剂） in the hope that she would become immortal1. The result was quite unexpected: she felt herself becoming light, so light that she flew up in spite of herself, drifting and floating in the air, until she reached the palace of the moon.

　　She is regarded by later generations as the goddess of the moon.

　　This beautiful story has always been liked by the Chinese and provides a favourite allusion2（暗示） for poets and writers.

　　Chairman Mao Zedong's poem in memory of his martyred（有牺牲精神的） wife Yang Kaihui has these well - known lines:

　　The lonely moon goddess spreads her ample sleeves

　　To dance for these loyal souls in infinite space.

　　Here, in the Chinese original, the name Chang'e is used instead of "moon goddess".

　　The figure of Chang'e, a beauty dressed in the elegant garments of a bygone（过去的） age floating towards the moon, naturally supplies unending inspiration for painters and sculptors3.