GiggleAcademy/Storybook/Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns

Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns

Author

nianniancommunity

This is a story about the Chinese mythological hero Hou Yi, who shot down the superfluous suns and saved humanity from great suffering. It tells of a legendary time in antiquity when ten suns scorched the earth, causing immense devastation to all living things. A hero named Hou Yi stepped forward, shot down nine of the suns, and left the last one to bring light and warmth to the world. The story is highly educational, emphasizing the spirit of courage, responsibility, and dedication.

3 - 8 years old

Story Details

Hou Yi Shoots the Suns

A long, long time ago, there were ten suns in the sky. They were the ten sons of the Jade Emperor, who took turns lighting up the earth each day. But one day, the ten suns thought taking turns was too boring, so they all ran out to play in the sky together! This was a disaster! The earth was scorched scorching hot.

The ten suns shone day after day. The land was baked until it cracked open with large fissures, like sad, gaping mouths. All the crops withered and died. The farmers sat by their fields and cried, "Without food, how will we survive?" The small animals also hid in caves, not daring to come out. A little squirrel clutched its pinecone, panting from the heat.

Just when everyone was about to lose hope, a great hero named Hou Yi stepped forward! Hou Yi was tall and strong, with incredibly powerful arms, and he knew how to use a magical great bow and arrow. He said to everyone, "Don't be afraid! I will shoot down the extra suns and restore the earth to how it was!"

To shoot the suns, he had to go to the highest place. Hou Yi slung his bow and arrows over his back, packed some dry rations, and set off! He climbed one high mountain after another. The rocks on the mountains were scorching hot from the sun, and his feet were covered in blisters. But he didn't give up at all and kept climbing upward.

After climbing for several days, Hou Yi finally arrived at the shore of the East Sea! The water of the East Sea was a beautiful blue, but because the suns were so scorching, the sand on the beach was too hot to step on. Hou Yi found a large bluestone to sit on. Facing the East Sea, he drank some water—he needed to build up his strength to prepare for shooting the suns.

After resting well, Hou Yi stood up and took the great bow and arrow from his back. He stood on the bluestone with his feet apart, holding the bow in his left hand and drawing the string with his right. He pulled the bowstring so tight it looked like a full moon! His eyes were fixed on the brightest sun in the sky, and he thought to himself, "You'll be the first one I shoot!"

"Whoosh!" Hou Yi released his hand, and the arrow shot towards the sky like a bolt of lightning! With a loud "Bang!", one of the suns in the sky was hit. It turned into a ball of fire and slowly fell down. The earth instantly cooled down a little. In the distance, people cheered, "He hit it! He hit it!"

Without taking a break, Hou Yi continued to draw his bow and shoot arrows—"Whoosh! Bang!" "Whoosh! Bang!" One by one, the suns were shot down. Some fell into the East Sea, creating huge splashes; others fell on the hillsides, dyeing the grass golden. There were fewer and fewer suns in the sky, and the earth grew cooler and cooler.

As Hou Yi prepared to shoot the ninth sun, he suddenly stopped. He thought, "If I shoot down all the suns, the earth will become dark and there will be no more warmth!" So, he lowered his bow and arrow and said to the last sun, "From now on, you must behave and come out on time every day to bring light and heat to the earth!"

From then on, the last sun rose and set on time every day, and life returned to the earth! The grass turned green, the crops grew tall, the rivers filled with water, and the fish swam happily. The people were very grateful to Hou Yi and considered him the greatest of heroes. His story has been passed down to this day.

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