The Magic Lotus Lantern facts for kids
The Magic Lotus Lantern is a famous Chinese fairy tale that comes from the Tang dynasty (618–907). It tells an exciting story about family, magic, and a brave hero's journey.
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The Story of the Magic Lotus Lantern
The tale begins with Sanshengmu, a beautiful goddess who lived in the heavens. She fell in love with a human man, which was forbidden for immortals. To be with him, she secretly took a powerful magical item called the Lotus Lantern and went down to Earth.
Sanshengmu and the man had a son named Chenxiang. They lived happily for seven years. However, Sanshengmu's brother, Erlang Shen, was a powerful god who did not approve of her choice. He found them by following the light of the Lotus Lantern. Erlang Shen captured young Chenxiang to force Sanshengmu to return the lantern. When she gave it back, he trapped her under a huge mountain.
Chenxiang's Brave Journey
Chenxiang grew up without his mother, but he eventually learned about her imprisonment. He decided he had to rescue her and get the Lotus Lantern back. His journey was full of challenges and dangers. As he faced these trials, Chenxiang became a strong and determined young man.
During his quest, Chenxiang met the legendary Monkey King, a powerful and wise figure. The Monkey King was impressed by Chenxiang's courage and gave him a magical axe to help him on his mission.
The Final Battle
With the magical axe, Chenxiang bravely confronted his uncle, Erlang Shen. It was a fierce battle. Just as Erlang Shen was about to defeat Chenxiang, the power of the Lotus Lantern suddenly entered Chenxiang's body. This made him incredibly strong, and he was able to overcome Erlang Shen.
After defeating his uncle, Chenxiang used his new strength to split the mountain in half. Sanshengmu was finally free, and mother and son were happily reunited.
Adaptations: Movies and TV Shows
Because The Magic Lotus Lantern is such a popular and exciting story, it has been made into many different movies and TV series over the years. People love to see this classic tale brought to life on screen.
Animated Films
Some of the most well-known adaptations are animated movies, which are often popular with younger audiences:
- Saving Mother (1984)
- Lotus Lantern (1999)
- Chen Xiang (2006)
TV Series
The story has also been adapted into several television shows, allowing for a longer and more detailed telling of Chenxiang's adventure:
- The Lamp Lore (1986)
- The Polien Lantern (2001)
- Lotus Lantern (2005), which also has a prequel called Prelude of Lotus Lantern (2009).
