The Key to Moon Worship Lies in Drawing the Vital Energy of the Moon!

According to legend, during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, there lived a scholar-official surnamed Liu in Chang’an, the imperial capital. His daughter, named Wan’er, was sixteen years old—with features as delicate as a painted portrait, and skilled in all the refined arts: qin (a stringed instrument), chess, calligraphy, and painting. Born into a scholarly family, she should have been a sought-after bride among suitors. Yet while girls her age all found good marriages one after another, Wan’er’s own marriage plans repeatedly fell through. The young men introduced by matchmakers either had poor moral character or came from families of vastly different social status; several matchmaking meetings ended without success. Liu and his wife were deeply troubled by this.

What worried them even more was Wan’er’s declining health. She grew weaker by the day, often suffering from dizziness and fatigue, and her complexion turned pale and haggard. They invited several renowned doctors for treatment, but none could diagnose the root cause of her illness. Lady Liu was so anxious that she could not sleep at night.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Lady Liu’s cousin, Mrs. Li, came to visit. Mrs. Li was a devout Taoist believer and well-versed in ancient folk rituals for praying for blessings and warding off misfortunes. Seeing Wan’er’s sickly appearance, Mrs. Li sighed: “This child is suffering from an imbalance of yin and yang, and a deficiency of the moon’s vital energy. No wonder her marriage plans fail and her health suffers.”

Puzzled, Lady Liu pressed her for an explanation. Mrs. Li explained: “Women belong to yin (the feminine, cool, and passive principle in Taoism), and they have a natural connection to the waxing and waning of the moon. If the moon’s vital energy fails to nourish the body and mind, it easily causes an imbalance of yin and yang, which in turn affects one’s fortune and health. To resolve this predicament, she must sincerely worship the Moon Goddess on Mid-Autumn Night, following ancient rituals to pray for her blessings.”

“Moon worship? Can it really work?” Lady Liu asked, half-believing.

“In my youth, I faced a similar dilemma, and it was only through Mid-Autumn Moon worship that I turned my fortune around,” Mrs. Li said with certainty. “But this is no mere act of burning incense and kowtowing. Every step follows age-old rituals—no carelessness is allowed.” Seeing Lady Liu’s eagerness to learn, Mrs. Li lowered her voice and detailed the secret moon-worship ritual, said to date back to ancient times and passed down from the Queen Mother of the West to Chang’e.

First came the selection of the site and the preparation of offerings. Moon worship required a quiet place facing the moon; a courtyard or a pavilion was ideal. The offerings had to be carefully prepared: mooncakes should be arranged in a circle, symbolizing “the moon is full, and people are reunited”; fruits should be round ones like apples and pomegranates, representing completeness; flowers should be white ones such as jasmine and sweet osmanthus, signifying purity and innocence. Additionally, clear tea and incense candles were needed to show respect.

Second was the timing—the key to moon worship. Mrs. Li emphasized: “It must be during the Zi Shi (the period from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), when the moon’s vital energy is at its strongest, and the Moon Goddess is most likely to sense the worshiper’s sincerity.”

Wan’er, who had been listening intently, could not help but ask: “What should I say during the worship?”

Mrs. Li smiled mysteriously and took a small pamphlet from her sleeve: “The prayer verses are highly particular. They must be classical verses passed down from ancient times—no impromptu words allowed. This pamphlet contains authentic verses I found in ancient books; there are specific lines for praying for marriage, health, and peace.”

Wan’er took the pamphlet. The words inside were elegant and neat, and flowed smoothly when read aloud. Before she could ponder further, Mrs. Li added: “Besides the prayers, hand gestures also matter. During worship, you must press your palms together and raise them above your head, then slowly lower them to your chest, and finally push them forward. This is called the ‘Moon-Holding Gesture,’ which symbolizes receiving the grace of the moon’s vital energy and absorbing it into your body and mind.”

Lady Liu nodded repeatedly and urged Wan’er: “My dear, let’s try what your cousin said!” Though still somewhat doubtful, Wan’er looked into her mother’s hopeful eyes and finally nodded.

Mid-Autumn Night arrived as scheduled. The moon that night was exceptionally bright and round, like a silver mirror hanging in the dark blue sky, casting a soft glow over everything below. Following Mrs. Li’s instructions, Wan’er had prepared everything early on the top of the rockery in the backyard: the platform on the rockery was covered with white silk, the offerings were arranged neatly according to the rules, and the incense candles were ready. As night deepened, Wan’er washed herself clean, put on a simple white dress, and walked slowly up the rockery.

As Zi Shi approached, the surroundings fell silent—only the chirping of insects accompanied the moonlight. Wan’er lit the incense candles; wisps of smoke rose in the moonlight, adding a sense of solemnity. She knelt before the altar, pressed her palms together, raised them above her head, and slowly made the “Moon-Holding Gesture.” In a soft voice, she began to recite the prayer: “Goddess of the Moon Palace, this humble maiden Liu Wan’er offers sincere prayers…”

Miraculously, as soon as she started the prayer, a gentle breeze suddenly blew through the windless night, carrying the fragrance of sweet osmanthus and jasmine—as if a divine presence was listening by her side. Wan’er focused her mind entirely, praying for her health, marriage, and her family’s peace in turn, as written in the pamphlet. The whole process lasted nearly an hour, ending only when Zi Shi was over.

After the worship, Wan’er felt a lightness all over her body—as if the fatigue and heaviness of recent days had been carried away by the moonlight. She tidied up the altar, distributed the offerings to the household servants, and then returned to her room to rest peacefully.

Strangely enough, after that night, Wan’er’s health improved day by day. Her complexion gradually turned rosy, and the dizziness and fatigue disappeared. Even more surprisingly, within a month, a matchmaker came to propose a marriage. The suitor was a promising young scholar who had just passed the imperial examination—with good moral character and a respectable family background. The two families hit it off immediately and soon set a wedding date. After Wan’er married, she and her husband lived in harmony and affection; the following year, they had a healthy son.

This story soon spread throughout Chang’an. Women began to follow Wan’er’s example, worshiping the moon and praying on every Mid-Autumn Night. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation ever since.