In Chinese mythology, Chang'e (/ˈtʃɑːŋ.ə/ CHAHNG-ə; Chinese: 嫦娥; pinyin: Cháng'é), originally called Heng'e (姮娥; Héng'é), is the goddess of the Moon and wife of Hou Yi, the great archer. Renowned for her beauty, Chang'e is also known for ascending to the Moon with her pet Yu Tu, the Moon rabbit and living in the Moon Palace (廣寒宮). She is one of the most prominent goddesses in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. In modern times, Chang'e is the namesake of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.
