Chinatown Milky Way Mural, The Herd-Boy and the Weaver-Girl

Mural Routes Member(s): Allan Bender

Category: Creative Realism, Heritage, Realism, Whimsical

A very long time ago, when the King of the Sky created the heavens, he decorated it with stars and asked his beautiful daughter to help him by weaving the clouds and mists. It was a long task and when the king noticed his daughter looking tired and drawn, he ordered her to take a break and go out to play among the stars. The princess headed down towards the Milky Way to bathe, whereupon she came across a handsome herd-boy grazing his water buffalo by the banks of the stream. To this day, on the seventh day of the seventh month of every year a great King sends a flock of magpies over the Milky Way to form a bridge to ensure the return of his daughter. The weather must be clear on this evening or the lovers cannot cross the celestial river to meet each other. If it rains the pair must wait another year. On a clear night you can see their two bright stars together in the sky. If it rains it is said that the drops falling to earth are the tears of the Weaver-Girl Princess.

Designed and painted by Allan Bender John Nobrega Stacey Kinder
Commissioned by Toronto Chinatown B.I.A. Completed Aug 2017