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Qi Qiao Jie: Chinese Valentine's Day

© Linda Campbell

On a clear summer’s evening, around 6th August, look into the sky and you may be able to find Altair, the Cowherd (a bright star in the constellation Aquila, west of the Milky Way) and Vega, the Weaving Maid (east of the Milky Way). At this time of the year they appear closer together than at any other time. Altair is the eleventh brightest and Vega the fifth brightest star in the sky. On the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese calendar these stars take on a special significance. This is Qi Qiao Jie, a day for lovers, similar to Valentine’s Day.

Many legends surround the origins of this day. One of the most popular concerns the seventh daughter of the Emperor and Empress of Heaven. This daughter, Zhi Nu, was especially good at weaving and so she is referred to as the Weaving Maid. Niu Lang was a poor orphaned cowherd, who had only one possession in the world – an old ox. This ox was really an immortal who had been banished from heaven by the Emperor.

The seven daughters of Heaven, on one of their visits to earth, were bathing in a river when they were seen by Niu Lang. The ox, perhaps desiring to create mischief, persuaded the handsome boy to steal the girls’ clothing. (Some stories say that he only stole Zhi Nu’s clothes.) Zhi Nu tried to get the clothes back but, as Niu Lang had seen her naked, agreed to his proposal to marry him. They lived contentedly and had two children. (They are represented in the sky by two stars Alshain and Tarazed, next to Altair.)

Some versions of the story state that Niu Lang died, others that Zhi Nu’s parents missed her and ordered her back to Heaven. Either way the loving couple were separated. One story states that the ox died but instructed the cowherd to keep his hide for emergencies. After Zhi Nu was ordered back to heaven, Niu Lang put on the ox hide, and carrying their two children, went after her. However the Empress made the Milky Way in the sky with a sweep of her hairpin and separated them by this river of stars. The princess was moved to the star Vega in the constellation Lyra and the cowherd and the two children remained in the Aquila constellation.

The Emperor agreed to let them meet on one night of the year and on this night the two stars are closer together but still too far apart to touch. Magpies took pity on the couple and they all gather together to make a bridge on which the lovers meet. That is why it is hard to find a magpie on Qi Qiao Jie in China. If it rains on this night, the raindrops are said to be the tears of Zhi Nu.