The general tale is a love story between Zhinü (织女, the weaver girl, symbolizing Vega) and Niulang (牛郎, the cowherd, symbolizing Altair). Niulang was an orphan who lived with his brother and sister-in-law. He was often abused by his sister-in-law. They eventually kicked him out of the house, and gave him nothing but an old cow. One day, the old cow suddenly spoke out, telling Niulang that a fairy will come, and that she is the heavenly weaver. It said the fairy will stay here if she fails to go back to heaven before morning. In accordance with what the old cow said, Niulang saw the beautiful fairy and fell in love with her, then they got married. The emperor of heaven(玉皇大帝, The Jade Emperor) found out about this and was furious, so he sent minions to escort the heavenly weaver back to heaven. Niulang was heartbroken and decided to chase after them. However, the Queen Mother of the West drew a Silver River (The Milky Way) in the sky and blocked his way. Meanwhile, the love between Niulang and the weaver moved the magpie, and they built a bridge of magpies over the Silver River for them to meet. The Emperor of Heaven was also moved by the sight, and allowed this couple to meet on the Magpie Bridge once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. That was the origin of the Qixi Festival.
鵲橋仙–秦觀（宋朝） Immortals at the Magpie Bridge – Qin Guan (Song Dynasty)
纖雲弄巧， Clouds float like works of art,
飛星傳恨， Stars shoot with grief at heart.
銀漢迢迢暗渡。 Across the Milky Way the Cowherd meets the Maid.
金風玉露一相逢， When Autumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jade,
便勝却人間無數。 All the love scenes on earth, however many, fade.
柔情似水， Their tender love flows like a stream;
佳期如夢， Their happy date seems but a dream.
忍顧鶴橋歸路。 How can they bear a separate homeward way?
兩情若是久長時， If love between both sides can last for aye,
又豈在朝朝暮暮。 Why need they stay together night and day?
Bring your love and come to the run, there will be beer, there will be lovebirds, and there will be a hash!
Hares:
Joy Ride Her, Just Diana, Super Squirter
Type:
A to A
When:
Aug 14th Saturday
Time:
Meet at 2:30pm, run starts at 3pm
Hash Cash:
30 RMB for run and circle
90 RMB for run, circle and dinner
Meetup:
Queenies Diner
D’erections:
Get out of Exit D at Beixinqiao subway station of Line 5, cross over to the north side and head to west, walk about 400 meters and Queenies will be on your right side.
在地铁五号线北新桥站下车，从D出口出去到路北侧，向西走400米，Queenies Diner在你右手边。
