From tale of 'Chang'e flying to the moon' to legend of 'Chang'e' lunar exploration

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By Ren Ping (Global Times) 10:28, February 14, 2025

The 15th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar marks the Lantern Festival.

The moon is full in the sky, and families are reunited on Earth. This brings the story of "the lady Chang'e flying to the Moon," as well as the mission of Chang'e lunar exploration to people's minds.

From ancient myth to modern-day legend, we reflect on the integration of culture and technology, exploring the deeper driving forces behind China's development. Innovative culture is undoubtedly one of the key elements.

With a history of over 5,000 years, the spirit of innovation, a most distinctive trait of the Chinese nation, has not only been internalized as an enduring spiritual heritage of the Chinese people and enriched the soil for an innovative culture, but also externalized in the practical development of the New Era, stimulating the momentum for innovative progress.

As the most technologically advanced lunar exploration mission in China's space history to date, Chang'e-6 has established an important milestone in China's lunar exploration program, offering a unique perspective through which we can observe the innovative spirit of the Chinese people and the innovative culture of the New Era.

In his 2025 New Year's message, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the technological innovation achievements such as how "the Chang'e-6 lunar probe collected samples from the far side of the moon," stating that "all this epitomizes the lofty spirit and dreams of the Chinese people to explore stars and oceans."

During a meeting with the representatives of space scientists and engineers who participated in the research and development of the Chang'e-6 lunar mission, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the achievements of the lunar exploration project embody the wisdom and hard work of several generations of Chinese aerospace workers, and demonstrate the remarkable accomplishment the country has made in scientific and technological self-reliance in recent years.

The New Era is far from ordinary. Why is it that China could always grow up in the baptism of wind and rain and emerge stronger after withstanding tests? In 2025, which marks the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), what enables the country to achieve its set goals? As China moves toward grand objectives, what empowers the country to overcome difficulties and challenges?

From the tale of "Chang'e flying to the moon" to the legend of "Chang'e" lunar exploration missions, people could see a vivid revelation of the secrets behind the continuous vitality of the Chinese nation and a bright future for vibrant Chinese modernization.

Dreams are never just dreams

The Chinese people possess the great spirit of dreaming and creation. As a cultural achievement of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, the innovative culture of the New Era inherits the genes of the excellent traditional Chinese culture and provides an endless source of power for the pursuit of dreams.　　

Xi has emphasized, "The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's decision to implement the lunar exploration project is to pursue the nation's unyielding dream of flying into the sky and reaching for the moon."

The legend of "Chang'e flying to the moon" is also where dreams begin.

Over 2,000 years ago, the Qin bamboo slips in the text "Gui Cang" recorded the story of "Chang'e flying to the moon." Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the ancient Chu state, which existed more than 2,200 years ago during the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), first mentioned the moon rabbit in his long poem "Tianwen," meaning "Heavenly Questions." These ancient myths are beautiful and touching, with stories having been passed down through the ages in books and by word of mouth.

For thousands of years, from the verse in the ancient classic Book of Songs, to poet Li Bai's "My heart yearns for the blue sky and to embrace the bright moon," and to poet Su Shi's "We share the beauty of the moon thousands of miles apart"... Classic cultural masterpieces shine like stars in the sky and these are the verses that people can recite effortlessly.

As far back as the Xia Dynasty (2070-1600 BC), ancient Chinese had developed the lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon to guide agricultural production. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wan Hu attempted to fly to the sky using a self-made rocket, becoming the first recorded "moon mission" in human history. The brilliant cultural lineage illuminates the past and present, a shared memory embedded in Chinese people's genetic heritage.

"Exploring the vast universe, developing space programs, and becoming an aerospace power has always been the dream we've been striving for." In the luster of the Chinese people's lives, dreams are never just dreams.