In Chinese mythology, the “Celestial Dog Devouring the Moon” is a captivating tale that blends astronomical phenomena with ancient beliefs. Originally described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) as a white-headed, fox-like creature capable of warding off evil, the celestial dog evolved into a malevolent spirit associated with lunar eclipses during the Han Dynasty. This transformation was influenced by Yin-Yang philosophy and Buddhist doctrines.
Core Narrative and Relationships
The most prevalent legend links the celestial dog to Xiao Tian Quan, the loyal hound of Erlang Shen, a revered Taoist deity. After being banished to Earth for disobeying heavenly laws, the dog sought vengeance by consuming the moon. During eclipses, communities traditionally strike gongs and set off firecrackers to scare away the creature. Another Buddhist-influenced version from the Mulian Rescues His Mother story attributes the phenomenon to a sinner-turned-dog chasing the moon in penance.
Literary and Cultural Contexts
This myth appears in chapter six of Journey to the West, where Xiao Tian Quan aids Erlang Shen in subduing Sun Wukong. Taoist texts like the Taiping Yulan interpreted lunar eclipses as omens of disaster, reflecting the ancient concept of “heaven-human correspondence.”
Folklore and Scientific Insights
Modern practices include clanging metal basins in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces or lighting torches in southwestern ethnic minority regions. These rituals coexist with scientific understanding: as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, astronomer Zhang Heng explained lunar eclipses as Earth’s shadow blocking the moon in his work Ling Xian.
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