This book records many incredible stories, and one of the tales reveals a mysterious secret about aliens and the Moon.
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a very famous book titled “Youyang Zazu” (Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang), whose content seems very close to modern science fiction novels.
In fact, this is a collection of bizarre tales written by Duan Chengshi during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, the second generation ruler of the Tang dynasty. The stories in this book are described in astonishing detail and vividness, which can be considered quite advanced for humanity, especially during the Tang Dynasty.
Youyang Zazu was written by Duan Chengshi during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. (Illustrative image).
Duan Chengshi’s father was Duan Wenxiang, a highly respected chancellor during the reign of Emperor Muzong of Tang. Although the family had a rich political background, Duan Chengshi did not value it. He harbored a dream of his own, akin to Sima Qian; he wished to travel the world and write a great work that could be compared to the “Records of the Grand Historian” and leave his name for future generations.
Thus, Duan Wenxiang agreed to his request and provided a substantial amount of money for him to travel across the Central Plains and even to more distant borders. It was during this long journey that Duan Chengshi completed the creation of “Youyang Zazu.” The stories recorded in this book are all folklore that he personally heard, giving them a certain degree of reliability.
“Youyang” in “Youyang Zazu” refers to the place where Duan Chengshi was writing, where he collected and compiled these stories. The term “Zazu” means to record folklore stories. In other words, “Youyang Zazu” can be understood as a book that records many different stories.
Youyang Zazu is a collection of bizarre tales. (Illustrative image).
In fact, this book not only records many true historical folk stories but also intertwines some legendary and bizarre tales that are hard to believe. These fictional stories are considered by some to be unorthodox and deviant. However, it is precisely the existence of these stories that makes “Youyang Zazu” so captivating.
The Strange Story of Aliens and the Moon
Once, Zheng Renban and Li Shucai took a stroll up Mount Song and got lost as night fell. While desperately trying to find their way in the dark, a pavilion suddenly appeared before them, followed by a soft snoring sound.
Zheng Renban approached and was very surprised to see a man lying quietly there. The man’s attire was particularly unusual. He wore a thick white cloak, nothing like the clothing of the people living in the Mount Song area. Nevertheless, to find his way down the mountain, Zheng Renban bravely approached to ask for help.
At this moment, the man in white woke up and seemed a bit displeased but still pointed the direction for Zheng Renban to descend the mountain. However, Li Shucai’s curiosity compelled him to inquire about the origin and strange attire of the man in white. The man in white, hearing this, smiled cheerfully and began to describe his identity.
This book records many true historical folk stories intertwined with some legendary and bizarre tales. (Illustrative image).
He pointed his finger at the bright moon in the night sky and slowly said, “Do you know that the Moon is actually made of seven types of materials? Its surface is not smooth like a mirror but has an uneven texture. The Moon itself does not emit light; it only shines brilliantly at night, illuminated by sunlight.”
These words bewildered Zheng Renban and Li Shucai, and their curiosity naturally arose, leading them to ask how he knew this. The man in white happily replied that he was one of those who were taking care of the Moon. He and 82,000 others were working hard to repair the surface of the Moon, and he was just resting.
These words astonished Zheng Renban and Li Shucai, making it hard for them to believe. The man in white continued to recount the mysteries behind the Moon. He showed them the majestic beauty of the Moon, describing the mountains and rivers on it as well as how they influenced the tides on Earth.
The man in white also told them that “yuqi fan – rice of jade” was their common food, believed to keep them disease-free throughout their lives. He also offered Zheng Renban and Li Shucai this kind of food.
Everyone received “yuqi fan” with gratitude and reverence. They regarded the man in white as a divine being and bowed to express their sincere gratitude. Then they hurriedly left, filled with memories and thoughts about this adventure.
After walking for a while, Zheng Renban turned back, hoping to see the pavilion and that mysterious man in white once more. However, both the man in white and the pavilion had vanished.
Upon returning, Zheng Renban and Li Shucai remembered this story and recounted it to many others. This event was later recorded in “Youyang Zazu.”
The story of meeting the man on the Moon was later recorded in Youyang Zazu. (Illustrative image).
The man in white in the story and the mysteries about the Moon he revealed have always been regarded by later generations as purely imaginative works. At that time, people’s concept of aliens had not yet formed, and their understanding of the Moon was limited to surface observations.
However, with advancements in science and technology and in-depth studies of the Moon, humanity began to uncover the astonishing truths of this ancient story. The Moon is indeed an uneven sphere. It does not naturally emit light but relies on the reflection of sunlight to illuminate at night.
This has prompted a reconsideration of this ancient story and sparked new speculations about the identity of the mysterious man in white. Perhaps more than a thousand years ago, encounters with actual aliens did occur on Earth.
