[Sample - Folktales / Mythology] The Legend of Hou Yi and the Ten Suns – An Archer Who Saved the World by Shooting Down Nine of Ten Suns

Long ago, in ancient China, the earth was a very different place. The world was young, and the heavens had been ruled by ten suns—ten fiery orbs that hung in the sky, each one burning with the intensity of a thousand fires. These suns were brothers, each born to the celestial Emperor, and they were tasked with providing light and warmth to the earth.

But unlike the suns we know today, the ten suns did not take turns rising and setting. No, they all hung in the sky at the same time, casting the world in a never-ending blaze of heat. The earth was scorched, the rivers dried up, the crops withered, and the people suffered in agony under the relentless, unyielding heat.

The world was in peril. The land was becoming a barren wasteland, and it seemed that no one could stop the suns from destroying everything. That is, until a great archer, Hou Yi, appeared. His courage, skill, and determination would change the fate of the world forever.

The Rise of Hou Yi

Hou Yi was no ordinary man. Born in a time of great turmoil, he was a skilled archer—legendary even among the gods. His father had been a great warrior, and Hou Yi inherited not only his strength but his indomitable spirit. But Hou Yi was not only a warrior. He was a man of wisdom and compassion, always seeking to protect those in need. The suffering of the people under the scorching suns stirred something deep within him, and he vowed to put an end to their torment.

Hou Yi sought out the highest mountain in the world, where the gods lived, and there he begged the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the heavens, to allow him to rid the earth of the ten suns. The Jade Emperor, recognizing Hou Yi’s strength and noble heart, granted him a great bow—one of unimaginable power—and ten magic arrows, each capable of striking down a sun.

The Battle with the Suns

With his bow in hand and determination in his heart, Hou Yi ascended into the sky to confront the ten suns. The suns, each fiery and proud, were floating high above the earth. They were unaware of the great archer who was coming for them, and their scorching heat continued to burn the land below.

Hou Yi stood tall, his bow drawn, his fingers steady on the arrows. He aimed his bow at the first sun and let loose an arrow of incredible power. With a thunderous crack, the arrow struck the sun, and the first sun fell from the sky, crashing into the earth below. The people, seeing the first sun fall, cheered in hope. But Hou Yi knew his task was far from over.

The suns, enraged by the death of their brother, rallied together. They grew stronger, and their heat intensified. But Hou Yi did not falter. He shot down the second sun, then the third, and the fourth, each arrow striking with deadly precision. The heavens themselves seemed to tremble at the power of his arrows.

As Hou Yi shot down more and more suns, the world began to cool. The rivers began to flow once more, the crops began to grow again, and the people started to rejoice. However, as he prepared to shoot the ninth sun, something strange happened.

The Final Choice

As Hou Yi aimed his arrow at the ninth sun, the remaining suns begged him for mercy. They pleaded with Hou Yi, their voices carried on the wind. "Please, noble archer, spare us!" they cried. "Without us, the world will plunge into eternal darkness! Without us, life cannot exist!"

Hou Yi, who had once believed that all the suns must fall to save the earth, now hesitated. He saw the truth in the suns’ words: the world needed light to live. Without light, life would wither away again. He was torn between his duty to save the earth and his compassion for the world he had fought so hard to protect.

In the end, Hou Yi made a decision that would forever be remembered. He lowered his bow and spared the final sun, allowing it to remain in the sky as the single source of light and warmth for the earth. The nine other suns had fallen, and the world was saved. The land was no longer scorched, and balance was restored to the heavens and the earth.

The Legacy of Hou Yi

Hou Yi’s great act of bravery became a legend. He was celebrated as the hero who saved the world from certain destruction. However, his story did not end there. After the battle, the gods, seeing Hou Yi’s incredible skill and courage, offered him immortality. But Hou Yi, ever the humble hero, turned down the offer. He chose instead to live among the people, guiding them with his wisdom and protecting them as their guardian.

He married the beautiful Chang’e, a woman as kind and wise as he was, and together they built a life filled with love and harmony. But the gods, moved by his sacrifice, gave him a gift—a potion of immortality, one that would ensure he could live forever and continue to protect the world.

Yet, this gift would lead to a series of tragic events. For a dark twist awaited Hou Yi and Chang’e, a twist that would test their love, their sacrifice, and their devotion to each other in ways they could never have foreseen.

The Tragic Fate of Hou Yi

Though Hou Yi had saved the world and was honored by the gods, fate took a darker turn. One day, Hou Yi returned home to find his beloved wife, Chang’e, in danger. A greedy and ambitious man sought to take the potion of immortality that Hou Yi had been given, believing that it would make him the most powerful being in the world. Desperate to protect the potion from falling into the wrong hands, Hou Yi hid it away.

However, a treacherous act would lead to tragedy. As the story unfolds, Hou Yi’s heroic deeds would come full circle, leaving him and Chang’e in a heartbreakingly difficult position.

The Legacy of the Archer

Even though Hou Yi’s story is tinged with loss, his legend remains one of courage, sacrifice, and hope. His actions to save the world and restore balance between the sun and the earth are remembered in festivals, poetry, and stories. His legacy teaches us that sometimes, the most difficult choices are the ones that define our fate.

Hou Yi did not just shoot down the suns—he gave hope to the world and showed that even the most powerful of beings must be wise in their decisions. His sacrifice in sparing the last sun reminds us that balance is crucial in life. He was not just a hero who saved the earth from destruction; he was a figure who taught the world the value of mercy, wisdom, and love.

Sound Effect Recommendations:

• Part 1 (The World Under the Ten Suns): Intense, scorching heat, accompanied by crackling fire and the sound of desolate winds, reflecting the unbearable heat the earth endured.

• Part 2 (Hou Yi’s Battle with the Suns): The sharp twang of a bowstring followed by the sound of thunderous cracks as each sun falls from the sky, accompanied by the roaring winds.

• Part 3 (The Final Choice): Soft, thoughtful music with a light breeze, symbolizing Hou Yi’s hesitation, followed by the gentle sound of the final sun remaining in the sky.

• Part 4 (Hou Yi’s Legacy): Uplifting, peaceful music with gentle nature sounds—birds singing, rivers flowing, symbolizing the return of balance and life to the earth.

• Part 5 (The Tragic End): Soft, melancholic music with a slow, fading wind, reflecting the sorrow and tragedy of Hou Yi and Chang’e’s fate.

The story of Hou Yi and the Ten Suns remains a timeless tale of bravery, sacrifice, and wisdom. His legacy as a hero who saved the world continues to inspire, reminding us that the greatest victories often come at the highest costs.