The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (English: Qiān niú, Zhī nǚ)

Japanese: 牽牛･織女 - けんぎゅうしょくじょ（英語表記）Qiān niú，Zhī nǚ

A male and female pair of deities found in Chinese myths and legends. Originally, Altair symbolized farming, a man's job, and Weaver Girl symbolized silk-raising and spinning, a woman's job, and they were probably a pair of deities forming a dualistic structure in the mythical cosmology, which was reflected in the constellations. The names of the stars are Altair for Altair and Vega for Weaver Girl. These two deities later became the protagonists of a love story linked to the Tanabata festival. An example of Altair and Weaver Girl being sung about together can already be seen in the Little Elegance section of the Book of Songs, but it is difficult to know what kind of tradition was behind it.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国，神話伝説の中にみえる男女一対の神。おそらく元来は牽牛が男の仕事である農耕を，織女が女の仕事である養蚕紡織を象徴し，神話的宇宙観の中で二元構造をなす一対の神格であったものが，星座にも反映されたものであろう。星名は，牽牛がアルタイルAltair，織女がベガVega。この2神は，後には七夕（たなばた）の行事と結びついた恋愛譚の主人公となる。牽牛星と織女星とが並んで歌われる例はすでに《詩経》小雅･大東篇にみえるが，その背後にいかなる伝承があったのかはうかがいがたい。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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