Chang'e (Chinese: 嫦娥; pinyin: Cháng'é, unofficially rendered as Chang-Er[1] or Chang-o for simpler pronunciation), originally known as Heng'e,[note 1] is the Chinese goddess of the Moon. She is the subject of several legends in Chinese mythology, most of which incorporate several of the following elements: Houyi the archer, a benevolent or malevolent emperor, an elixir of life, and the Moon. She was married to Houyi. In modern times, Chang'e has been the namesake of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.