It may seem surprising, but this natural phenomenon—why the Sun and the Moon never meet—can be explained very simply. However, in ancient times, people knew very little about astronomy, and that is why beautiful legends were born.

One day, I decided to make a video about Chinese folklore and found many interesting and romantic tales originating from China and the peoples who live there.

The Legend of the Sun, the Moon, and the Evil Sorcerer (Witch)

This is a legend of the Yi people, who live in southern China.

Once upon a time, there were two lovers—a beautiful girl named A-mi and a brave young man named A-lo. They were inseparable and were planning to get married.

An evil and powerful sorcerer (in some versions, an evil witch or a cruel ruler of the underworld or mountain kingdom) envied their happiness and wanted the girl for himself. When she rejected him, the sorcerer flew into a rage and decided to separate the lovers forever, ensuring that they would never be able to touch one another.

He turned the young man A-lo into the Sun, destined to warm the earth by day. He turned the young woman A-mi into the Moon, which was to shine in the darkness of night.

Eternal Separation and Eclipses

The sorcerer cast a curse: one was to take the other’s place in the sky, so that they would search for each other forever but could never meet.

However, love proved stronger than magic. The young man, the Sun, and the young woman, the Moon, found a way to circumvent the curse. When their longing becomes unbearable, they disrupt the celestial order and draw close to embrace each other for a moment—at that moment, people on Earth witness a solar or lunar eclipse. And the stars in the night sky are the sparks of their unending love or the tears of the Moon, who longs for her beloved.