What is the story of Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns?

Ten suns, the children of the Sky King, are supposed to take turns, but one day they all come out together and the land burns. Emperor Yao sends for Hou Yi, the greatest archer, who climbs the highest mountain and shoots nine suns out of the sky. The last one promises to do its job properly, and that is why we have one sun, day and night.

Where does the myth of Hou Yi and the ten suns come from?

From the Huainanzi, a Chinese text from the 2nd century BC, which says that in the time of Yao ten suns came out together and Yao sent Yi to shoot them. The detail that nine fell and one was left comes from a later commentary on the Chu Ci, and the suns being children of the Sky King from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Is this the same Hou Yi as in the story of Chang'e?

Yes. After shooting down the suns, Hou Yi is given the elixir of immortality, and his wife Chang'e swallows it and flies to the moon. Both stories are in the Huainanzi, and both are on this site.

Is there a Chinese version of Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns?

Yes. It is called 后羿射日 (Hòu Yì shè rì), “Hou Yi shoots the suns.” This page has our Chinese retelling with Mandarin narration, and the original lines from the Huainanzi.

Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns Story

Ages 4–8
English audio 2 min
Mandarin audio 2 min

Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns is a classic story from Chinese Myths and Legends for Kids, for children aged 4–8. This page has the English story with a native English narration (about 2 min), plus the Chinese version with Mandarin narration (about 2 min). Free to read and listen, no sign-up.

Ten suns climb into the sky at once and scorch the earth, so Emperor Yao calls on the archer Hou Yi, who shoots down nine and leaves one to light the day. The Chinese myth in simple English with narration, plus the Chinese version.

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Read Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns

Long ago, there were ten suns, the children of the Sky King. Only one came out each day.

But one day the ten suns got bored. "Let's all go out and play!" they shouted, and all ten jumped into the sky.

Ten suns made the land as hot as an oven. The rivers dried up and the crops burned. People hid in caves.

Emperor Yao sent for Hou Yi, the best archer. "Only you can help us," he said. "Let me try!" said Hou Yi.

Hou Yi climbed the highest mountain and pulled his great bow. Whoosh! One sun tumbled into the Eastern Sea. One by one, he shot down nine suns.

Only one sun was left. It hid behind a cloud. "Don't shoot me! I will do my job!" it cried. "Good. Shine by day, and go home at night," said Hou Yi.

Since then, there has been one sun. It rises in the east and goes home in the west. Everyone calls Hou Yi a hero.

The Chinese version: 后羿射日

很久很久以前，天上有十个太阳。他们是天帝的孩子，本来说好一天只出来一个，轮流值班。

可是有一天，十个太阳嫌轮流值班太无聊，嚷嚷着：“我们一起出去玩吧！”十个太阳一起跳上了天空。

十个太阳一起晒，地上热得像个大火炉。河水晒干了，庄稼晒焦了，人们躲在山洞里，不敢出门。

尧帝急坏了，他找来最会射箭的后羿：“后羿，只有你能帮大家了。”后羿背起大弓说：“让我去试试！”

后羿爬上最高的山，拉开弓，嗖的一声，一支箭飞上天。一个太阳被射中，骨碌碌滚下天空，掉进了东海里。射中一个，掉一个，后羿一口气射下了九个。

只剩最后一个太阳了。它吓得躲到云彩后面：“别射我！我以后一定好好值班！”后羿放下弓：“好。记住，白天出来照亮大地，晚上回家休息。”

从那以后，天上只有一个太阳。它每天早上从东边出来，晚上到西边回家。河水又流了，庄稼又绿了。人们都说，后羿是大英雄。

Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns Story: the moral of the story

One sun is just right; ten are a disaster, so even good things need limits. Hou Yi stops at nine, because the point is to put things right, not to shoot everything down. And when everyone is afraid, someone has to step up and try.

The original Chinese text of Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns

逮至尧之时，十日并出，焦禾稼，杀草木，而民无所食……尧乃使羿……上射十日……万民皆喜。

— 《淮南子·本经训》

Our translation

In the time of Yao, ten suns came out together. They scorched the crops and killed the grass and trees, and the people had nothing to eat. ... So Yao sent Yi ... to shoot the ten suns in the sky ... and all the people rejoiced.

— Huainanzi, “Benjing” (2nd century BC)

Chinese words in Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns

Play the Chinese narration and listen for these words. The pinyin shows the tones.

后羿hòu yì
Hou Yi
太阳tài yáng
sun
射shè
shoot
弓gōng
bow
箭jiàn
arrow
热rè
hot
东海dōng hǎi
the Eastern Sea
英雄yīng xióng
hero

For families learning Mandarin

Mandarin learning pack

Print the story, read it together, then listen and say it back. Made for heritage families and children learning Mandarin.

A printable PDF (3 pages): the Chinese story with pinyin over every character, the words to know, the English version, questions to talk about, and character writing practice.
Slow Mandarin audio (4 min): every sentence at a gentler pace, followed by a pause long enough to say it back.

Buy once, download again any time. The story itself stays free to read and hear. Try the free sample pack (The Tortoise and the Hare) first.

Page one of the Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns learning pack: the Chinese story with pinyin over every character

Bedtime storytelling tips

Make the ten suns noisy and quick, like a classroom at break time; make Hou Yi's lines slow and steady.
Count the arrows with your child: one, two, three ... stop at nine and ask, “Why leave one?”
The last line says the sun goes home at night. Add, “The sun has gone to bed. So can we.” In Chinese the sun is 太阳 (tài yáng).

Things to talk about afterwards

What happened to the land when all ten suns came out?
Why did Hou Yi leave one sun in the sky?
If you were the last sun, what would you promise?

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Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns Story: common questions

What is the story of Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns?: Ten suns, the children of the Sky King, are supposed to take turns, but one day they all come out together and the land burns. Emperor Yao sends for Hou Yi, the greatest archer, who climbs the highest mountain and shoots nine suns out of the sky. The last one promises to do its job properly, and that is why we have one sun, day and night.
Where does the myth of Hou Yi and the ten suns come from?: From the Huainanzi, a Chinese text from the 2nd century BC, which says that in the time of Yao ten suns came out together and Yao sent Yi to shoot them. The detail that nine fell and one was left comes from a later commentary on the Chu Ci, and the suns being children of the Sky King from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Is this the same Hou Yi as in the story of Chang'e?: Yes. After shooting down the suns, Hou Yi is given the elixir of immortality, and his wife Chang'e swallows it and flies to the moon. Both stories are in the Huainanzi, and both are on this site.
Is there a Chinese version of Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns?: Yes. It is called 后羿射日 (Hòu Yì shè rì), “Hou Yi shoots the suns.” This page has our Chinese retelling with Mandarin narration, and the original lines from the Huainanzi.

Source and how we retold it

From the Huainanzi, chapter “Benjing” (本经训), a Western Han text from the 2nd century BC, in the public domain. The original says that in the time of Yao ten suns rose together, scorching the crops and leaving the people nothing to eat, so Yao sent Yi to shoot the suns, after which all the people rejoiced. It does not say how many fell; the familiar detail that he shot down nine and left one comes from Wang Yi's Eastern Han commentary on the Chu Ci. The idea that the suns are children of the Sky King who take turns comes from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Our retelling makes the suns mischievous children, drops the monsters Yi also fights in the original, has the fallen suns splash into the Eastern Sea, and ends with the last sun promising to do its job.

The narration on this page is AI-generated: the English is read by our narrator and the Chinese by our narrator. The audio files are labeled as AI-generated.

If you liked Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns Story, there are more stories in Chinese Myths and Legends for Kids. You can also read this one to your child in your own voice.