This book records many unbelievable stories, and one of them reveals a mysterious secret about aliens and the moon.
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a very famous book called “Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang, ” the content of which seems very similar to modern science fiction novels.
In fact, this is a book of bizarre tales (records of anomalies) written by Duan Chengshi during the reign of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The stories in this book are described in astonishing detail and vividness, arguably very advanced for humankind, especially during the Tang Dynasty.
“Dậu Dương Tạp Trở” was written by Đoạn Thành Thức during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. (Illustrative image).
Duan Chengshi’s father was Duan Wenxiang, a highly respected prime minister during the reign of Emperor Muzong of the Tang Dynasty. Despite his family’s rich political background, Duan Chengshi didn’t value it. He harbored a dream of his own: like Sima Qian, he wanted to personally travel the world and write a great work comparable to “Records of the Grand Historian ,” leaving his name for posterity.
Therefore, Duan Wenxiang agreed to his request and provided a large sum of money for him to travel throughout the Central Plains and even to the more distant border regions. It was during this long journey that Duan Chengshi completed the creation of “Youyang Miscellaneous Tales”. The stories recorded in this book are all folk tales that he himself heard, so they have a certain degree of credibility.
“Dậu Dương” in “Dậu Dương Tạp Trở” refers to the place where Đoạn Thành Thức was writing, where he collected and compiled these stories. The word “Tạp Trở” means to record folk tales. In other words, “Dậu Dương Tạp Trở” can be understood as a book recording many different stories.
“Dậu Dương Tạp Trở” is a novel of the bizarre and fantastical. (Illustrative image).
In fact, this book not only records many true folk tales but also incorporates some fantastical and bizarre legends that are hard to believe. These fictional stories are considered unconventional and deviant by some. However, it is precisely the existence of these stories that makes “Dậu Dương Tạp Trở” so captivating.
The strange story of “aliens” and the moon.
One day, Zheng Renben and Li Xiucai were strolling up Mount Songshan when they got lost as night fell. While desperately searching for their way in the darkness, a pavilion suddenly appeared before them, followed by a soft snoring sound.
Accordingly, Zheng Renben approached and was surprised to find a man lying there silently. The man’s attire was particularly unusual. He wore a thick, snow-white robe, completely unlike that of the people living in the Tung Shan mountains. However, in order to find his way down the mountain, Zheng Renben bravely approached him, asked for his help, and inquired about his situation.
At this moment, the man in white woke up and seemed a little displeased, but still directed Zheng Renben down the mountain. However, Li Xiucai’s curiosity prompted him to ask about the origin and strange attire of the man in white. Hearing this, the man in white broke into a cheerful smile and began to describe his identity.
This book records many true historical folk tales, interwoven with some magical and bizarre legends. (Illustrative image).
He raised his finger, pointing to the bright moon in the night sky, and slowly said, “Do you know that the moon is actually made of seven different materials? Its surface isn’t smooth like a mirror; it has an uneven surface. The moon itself doesn’t emit light; it only shines brightly when night falls and is illuminated by the sun.”
These words puzzled Zheng Renben and Li Xiucai; their curiosity naturally arose, and they all asked him how he knew this. The man in white cheerfully replied that he was one of the people guarding the Moon. He and 82,000 others were working hard to repair the Moon’s surface, and now he was just resting.
These words astonished Zheng Renben and Li Xiucai; they couldn’t believe it. The man in white continued to tell them about 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 affect the tides on Earth.
The man in the white robe also told them that “jade rice” was their popular food, and that it was believed to keep them free from illness throughout their lives. He also offered this food to Zheng Renben and Li Xiucai.
Everyone received the “jewel of the Buddha” with gratitude and awe. They regarded the man in white as a godlike being and knelt to express their sincere gratitude. Then they hurried away, their hearts filled with memories and thoughts of this adventure.
After walking a short distance, Trinh Nhan Ban turned back, hoping to see the pavilion and the mysterious man in white once more. However, both the man in white and the pavilion had vanished.
Upon their return, Zheng Renben and Li Xiucai remembered this story and recounted it to many others. This event was later recorded in “Youyang Zazhu”.
The story of the encounter with people on the Moon was later recorded in the book “Dậu Dương Tạp Trở”. (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 works of imagination. At that time, the concept of extraterrestrial beings had not yet formed in people’s minds, and their understanding of the Moon was limited to observing its surface.
However, with advancements in science and technology and in-depth research on the Moon, people are beginning to discover the astonishing authenticity of this ancient story. The Moon is indeed an uneven sphere. It does not emit light naturally but relies on the reflection of sunlight to illuminate at night.
This has led to a re-examination of this ancient story and given rise to new speculations about the identity of the mysterious man in white. Perhaps, more than a thousand years ago, encounters with extraterrestrials did indeed occur on Earth.
