Long ago, beyond the mountains and rivers of mortal lands, there was a vast kingdom in the heavens where the Jade Emperor ruled. Among the celestial beings, none was more skillful than Zhinü, the Weaver Girl, daughter of the Jade Emperor. Her hands danced over the loom, weaving robes for the gods, and her threads shone with the colors of dawn and dusk.
But Zhinü was lonely. She spent her days weaving alone in the palace, her heart longing for something she could not name.
Far below, in the mortal world, lived Niulang, a humble cowherd. His parents had died when he was young, leaving him with only an old, gentle ox as his companion. Niulang was kindhearted but poor, tending his fields and his ox with quiet diligence.
Cowherd speaks to his Ox
One day, the old ox spoke.
“Niulang,” it said in a deep, patient voice, “I am no ordinary beast. I was once a heavenly ox, cast down to the mortal world for my mistakes. But I know a secret, by the stream beyond the forest, seven heavenly maidens will descend to bathe. Among them will be Zhinü. If you take her robe, she cannot return to the heavens, and she will stay with you.”
Niulang’s heart raced. He had never heard of such beauty, yet something in the ox’s voice made him believe. That very night, under a sky full of silver stars, he hid near the stream.
Just as the ox had said, seven maidens in robes of light floated down on beams of moonlight. Laughing, they removed their robes and stepped into the shimmering water.
Cowherd takes a step
Niulang’s gaze fell upon Zhinü. She was unlike anyone he had ever seen—her face radiant as spring, her laughter like falling rain. Compelled by both wonder and fate, he took her robe and stepped forward.
Startled, the maidens scattered, flying into the sky—except Zhinü, who stood shivering on the bank.
“I… I have your robe,” Niulang stammered, holding it close. “Please don’t be afraid. I wish only for you to stay with me.”
Zhinü saw the sincerity in his eyes. Though she had every reason to flee, her heart softened. She agreed to stay, and in time, they married.
Years passed in joy. They lived in a small home, working side by side in the fields. Zhinü wove beautiful cloth, while Niulang tended the ox and their growing crops. Soon they had two children, a boy and a girl, and their love deepened like roots in fertile soil.
But the heavens do not forget. One day, the Queen Mother of the West, keeper of celestial order, learned that Zhinü had abandoned her weaving duties. Enraged, she descended to earth and took Zhinü back to the sky.
Weaver must return
When Niulang returned from the fields, she was gone. The children cried for their mother, and Niulang’s heart broke.
Then the old ox spoke again.
“My time in this world is ending. When I die, take my hide and wear it—it will give you the power to fly.”
The ox died that very night, and Niulang, with grief and urgency, draped the hide over his shoulders. Lifting his children into a basket, he rose into the air, chasing the fading figure of Zhinü across the clouds.
Just as he was about to reach her, the Queen Mother took her hairpin and swept it across the sky. From its tip poured a vast river of stars, separating them forever.
That river was the Milky Way.
Zhinü wept on one bank while Niulang stood on the other, their children clinging to him. But the magpies, moved by their love, flew together each year to form a bridge across the river. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd are reunited, if only for a single night.
And so, each year, when the magpies gather and the stars shimmer brightest, lovers remember the tale of Zhinü and Niulang—their joy, their sorrow, and their unbreakable bond.
Moral
The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd teaches that love, though powerful, often requires patience and sacrifice. The heavens and earth may conspire to keep hearts apart, but devotion endures across any distance. In the Chinese tradition, this tale also reminds us to value the duties we hold, for harmony lies in balancing personal happiness with the responsibilities we owe to others.
Knowledge Check
1. What is the moral of the folktale “The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd”?
The story teaches a lesson about patience and devotion, showing how love can endure across distance and hardship while still honoring tradition and duty.
2. What cultural group does the tale “The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd” come from?
This folktale originates from the Chinese storytelling tradition in Asia.
3. Why did Niulang take Zhinü’s robe?
In the tale, Niulang took Zhinü’s robe out of love and longing, which set the events into motion and revealed his deep yearning for companionship.
4. How does the folktale “The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd” explain the Milky Way?
The story offers a cultural explanation that the Milky Way was formed by the Queen Mother of the West to separate the lovers, with magpies forming a bridge once a year.
5. Is “The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd” considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
“The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd” is a celestial love myth that reflects the values of loyalty, sacrifice, and balance between love and duty.
6. How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message of “The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd” remains relevant as it teaches timeless truths about commitment, patience, and cherishing the time we have with loved ones.
Origin: This folktale comes from the Chinese tradition in Asia.
