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Painting of Taiyin Xingjun, the Western Xia (982-1227), in Hermitage Museum.

Taiyin Xingjun (太阴星君) is the Chinese goddess of the moon. While often intertwined with the legend of Chang'e, Taiyin Xingjun is the true guardian of the moon.

Legends

According to Taiwanese media reports, Taiyang Xingjun and Taiyin Xingjun are often worshipped as the companion gods of the Jade Emperor.

According to some traditions, although Chang’e is also considered to be an accidental resident of the moon, she is not the moon’s rightful owner. Instead, Taiyin Xingjun, the moon goddess herself, graces the night sky with her luminous presence. Taiyin Xingjun is also known as Jielin, which means "the immortal who races to the moon."

The Seven Sage Chronicles states: "The Yu Hua (red text) dwells with the sun; the Jie Lin (yellow text) dwells with the moon. The Yu Hua is the essence of the sun; the Jie Lin is the essence of the moon."

Sometimes, Taiyin Xingjun is also seen as another aspect of the Queen Mother of the West. The Yúnjí Qīqiān states: "The Xiwangmu is the primordial qi of the Taiyin. Her two breasts are the essence of the myriad gods, the vital fluids of yin and yang. Under her left breast is the sun, and under her right breast is the moon. It is the dwelling place of the King Father and the Queen Mother."

The Supreme Yellow Court Inner Scenery Jade Scripture states: "Highly running towards the sun and moon is my supreme path, Yuhua and Jielin are mutually protecting."

The Commentary of Liangqiu Zi states: "Yuhua is the immortal who runs towards the sun, while Jielin is the immortal who runs towards the moon."

Statue of Taiyang Xingjun, enshrined in the Kaijiyu Temple in Tainan City, Taiwan

According to the poem Two Ghosts (二鬼) by Ming dynasty poet Liu Ji (刘基), the Jade Emperor, taking pity on the uneven distribution of labor and rest, which led to illness and ailments, appointed two ghosts to guard them, named Jielin and Yuhua. Yuhua clutches the foot of a three-legged crow, her feet treading on firewheels coiled with nine dragons. She chews on the five-colored essence of the wood spirit, and her body radiates with five-colored light. In the morning, she sets out from the Valley of the Rising Sun and returns to the branch of the Fusang tree in the evening. Cracking his whip, she drives dragons and rides the sea like a bird, stirring up clouds and boiling waves to cook fish and turtles. Her radiant brilliance illuminates the darkness, and the warm air nourishes the plants and flowers, causing them to grow fragrant and luxuriant. Jielin sits at the roots of the Guanghan Cassia tree, rinsing her mouth with the fragrant dew of cassia. She partakes of the spiritual medicine offered by the White Rabbit, leaping onto the back of the toad. She sketches light and plays with shadows, swirling in the Milky Way, sparkling like jewels and flowers."

Taiyin Xingjun holds a position akin to the Chinese goddess of the moon, similar to Selene in Greek mythology. With the Mid-Autumn Festival's focus on lunar veneration, homage naturally gravitates towards Taiyin Xingjun. On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, throughout China, people erect incense altars, light crimson candles, offer fresh fruits in four vivid hues, burn incense, and pay homage beneath the gleaming moonlight. This ritual intertwines reverence with leisure, as the moon's radiance bestows a mystical aura, evoking myriad enchanting narratives and profound contemplations. Amidst these tales, "Chang’e Flies to the Moon" remains among the most revered.