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The Magic Lotus Lantern is a Chinese fairy tale from theTang dynasty (618–907).
GoddessSanshengmu falls in love with a mortal man, Liu Yangcheng. Against the wishes of her brother,Erlang Shen, she steals an artefact known as the lotus lantern, capable of subduing any creature man, beast, and even deity, and escapes Heaven to be with her lover. She later births a son whom they nameChenxiang. When Chenxiang is 7 years old, however, the family is discovered by Erlang Shen, who kidnaps the child and demands the return of the lotus lantern. Though San Shengmu acquiesces, she is imprisoned under Mount Hua as punishment. Chenxiang learns of her fate and vows to get the lantern back in hopes he can free her. As he grows into a young man, he comes under the tutelage ofSun Wukong, who crafts for him a powerful axe which he uses to take on his uncle. However, Chenxiang remains unable to beat him and, just as he is about to be killed by Erlang Shen, light from the lotus lantern merges with Chenxiang granting him enough strength to defeat his uncle. Chenxiang splits the mountain in half using the axe, freeing Sanshengmu and reuniting mother and child.
