According to legend, Shaohao was the leader of the Eastern Yi tribe, and he was the son of the celestial maiden Huang E (皇娥) and the Morning Star (启明星).
Huang E, a clever and beautiful celestial maiden, spent her days weaving colorful silks in the heavenly palace. She worked tirelessly, often into the late hours of the night. At times, she would take a break and drift on a wooden raft along the vast Milky Way, enjoying the tranquility and peace of the cosmos.
One day, Huang E once again set off on her raft, following the Milky Way upstream. She eventually arrived beneath a towering tree, the Qiong Sang tree (穷桑树), located at the edge of the Western Sea. The tree stood a thousand feet tall, its roots deep and leaves thick. Its leaves were red, and its fruit was purple. Legend had it that this tree bore fruit only once every ten thousand years, and anyone who ate its fruit would gain immortality.
As Huang E rested under the Qiong Sang tree, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly saw a handsome young man descending slowly from the sky. Curiously, she watched as he approached. The young man’s face was round like the full moon, his eyes shone brightly like the morning stars, and his whole body seemed to glow with a faint radiance. He exuded an elegant and charming presence, and Huang E couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized.
The young man gracefully approached Huang E and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Princess Huang E! I am the son of the White Emperor, and I wish to be your friend.”
Huang E, surprised, asked, “Ah, the son of the White Emperor? Isn’t that the Morning Star? You are the Morning Star, also known as Venus? So it’s really you! I often sit here, gazing at the Morning Star in the eastern sky, thinking how bright, beautiful, and diligent it is. Every day, it brings daylight to the world.”
As she spoke, Huang E’s heart raced, and she blushed, embarrassed by her words.
The Morning Star, equally flustered, smiled and said, “I feel the same way! Every time I rise into the sky, I always see you first, and I think you are so beautiful. I asked the other stars, and they told me that you are the skilled and talented Huang E. Your rainbow silks are as beautiful as you. Every night, I hear the sound of your weaving, and it’s so delightful that I can’t sleep. Every morning, I eagerly wait for you to appear by the Milky Way.”
The Morning Star poured out his feelings, only to realize he was becoming too emotional. He blushed, embarrassed, and looked at Huang E.
Huang E shyly lowered her head, gently brushing her flowing black hair to hide the rapid beating of her heart.
With a smile, the Morning Star stretched out his hand and summoned a gleaming silver lute. Holding the lute, he sat beneath the Qiong Sang tree and began to play a beautiful melody. Huang E, captivated by the sound, couldn’t resist singing along to the music. The Morning Star’s lute playing seemed to express his love for her, while Huang E’s singing conveyed her affection for him.
The song and the music blended together, their melodious sounds drawing fish to the surface of the water, while flowers bloomed in response. A phoenix appeared, dancing joyfully in the sky. A nightingale flew over and sang to accompany the pair. As their hearts grew closer, they climbed onto the raft together. They used branches from a laurel tree to make the mast, tied fragrant herbs to the top as a flag, and carved a bird, called the Jade Dove, to place on top of the mast for guidance.
The raft drifted along the Milky Way. As the music continued, Huang E, swept away by the beauty of the sound, couldn’t help but sing more. The music and the song intertwined beautifully, and the two of them leaned into each other, lost in the happiness of their love. The fish swam excitedly alongside the raft, while the phoenix soared joyfully above them. Huang E and the Morning Star floated happily, and before long, their love had borne fruit in the form of Shaohao.
Thus, Shaohao was born, a symbol of the deep and enduring love between Huang E and the Morning Star.