Light is a symbol that appears often in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, sometimes as literal moonlight, and other times, as a more figurative description of someone’s spirit or energy. Light and moonlight signify truth, pure goodness, faith, and a higher state of being. There’s a moment when Minli is away from home and Ba and Ma wonder if Minli will ever return. It’s their darkest moment, and just as they’re in danger of losing all hope, Ba insists they keep their faith. Just then, “A faint, gray light seeped into the room, as if the moon was escaping from the clouds” (152). This light from behind the clouds symbolizes hope amidst despair. The buffalo boy, when describing the immortal weaver girl, says: “Her hair floated around her like a midnight halo and her white face looked like a star in the sky” (106). This description goes beyond beauty and implies majesty or godliness.

The moon itself represents the source of light, spirituality, and wisdom. The Old Man of the Moon is a personification of these traits, with his wisdom and uncorrupted power.