Moon Rabbit Research by Coco Shin

Who?

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 16:24:33 UTC

The Moon Rabbit is a mythical figure in East Asian and indigenous American folklore. People have admitted to seeing a silhouette of a hare pounding in a pestle when this is actually dark markings on the near side of the moon (called “pareidolia” in scientific terms.)

Wider story

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 16:48:24 UTC

Chinese mythology

The Moon Rabbit （月兔）, sometimes referred to as the Jade Rabbit（玉兔）, is an extension of the Mid-Autumn mythology of moon goddess Chang-e. It is her companion, along with a toad, on the Moon and helps her create the elixir of life by grinding it with a pestle.

Japanese and Korean mythology

The Moon Rabbit pounds mochi/ songpyeon (rice cake,) which is symbolic of immortality and fertility

Character backstory (Chinese, Japanese)

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 16:50:51 UTC

The Jade Emperor/ Sakra (ruler of the Gods) wanted to create an elixir of immortality. Deeming humans untrustworthy, he turned to animals. To test the animals, he flew to Earth, pretended to be a beggar, and pleaded with the animals for food. Out of all of them, the rabbit proved to be the most selfless as he offered himself after realizing the Emperor couldn’t ingest grass. Before he jumped into the fire to sacrifice himself, the Emperor was touched by his kindness and brought him to the Moon as a reward. It later earned its name as the Jade Rabbit due to its Jade-like fur and worked hard every day making the elixir on the Moon.

https://www.mocanyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Legend-of-the-Jade-Rabbit.pdf

Names

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 17:00:38 UTC

Chinese: Moon Rabbit/ Jade Rabbit

Japanese: Tsukino Usagi

Korean: Daltokki

Other countries like India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar all have their own similar versions of the Moon Rabbit with slight alterations based on their religions. Indigenous American cultures such as the Aztecs and Mayans both depict the Moon Rabbit having affiliations to their respective Moon Goddesses.

https://www.chuseok.info/rabbit

https://mingeiarts.com/blogs/celebration-of-mingei-journey-through-japan/tsukino-usagi-the-moon-rabbit-beautiful-center-of-water-rabbits-selfless-and-making-mochi-on-the-moon

https://owlcation.com/humanities/moon-rabbit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rabbit#/media/File:Goddess_O_Ixchel.jpg

Cultural significance

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 17:11:41 UTC

The Moon Rabbit is portrayed as a selfless, brave, heroic, and altruistic being across most East Asian folklore due to his sacrificial act of offering his own flesh to cure the Jade Emperor's hunger. Its hardworking attitude at continuously pounding the elixir on the Moon and its friendship with Chang-e symbolizes endurance, community, and cooperation. Its important role in creating the elixir also connects it to rebirth and immortality.

The story also illustrates a moral lesson that kindness and bravery will be rewarded.

Physical Attributes

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 17:16:38 UTC

A stereotypical long-eared rabbit
White/ silver/ jade-like fur
Naked/ wearing traditional clothing/ armor
Anthropomorphic as it can stand on its hind legs, pound the elixir, and communicate with humans verbally
Often holds the pestle used for creating the elixir of immortality
Rides on a tiger/ dragon/ horse

Emotional Attributes

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 17:25:44 UTC

selfless, kind, brave, altruistic
an overall virtuous and benevolent being
rather than being selfless, does it have low self-esteem as it willingly sacrifices its flesh for a hungry stranger?
seems very passive in its backstory as its fate was dictated by the Jade Emperor
does it feel lonely being the only rabbit on the Moon?

Defining actions

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 17:29:25 UTC

pounding elixir with mortar and pestle
jumping into the fire

Dialogue

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-24 17:35:48 UTC

"Please, eat me instead!"
assuming it speaks a human language as he can communicate with the Jade Emperor (language varies according to culture)
Tone of voice: courageous, bright, loud?

Character backstory (Mayan)

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-25 10:33:26 UTC

Same story but Quetzalcóatl (one of the most important gods in the Aztec pantheon) imprinted the rabbit's shape on the moon to commemorate its bravery instead of sending it to live on the moon forever.

loomingfanatic — 2023-10-25 10:41:46 UTC

Tu'er Ye (also known as the Rabbit God, is a deity of Chinese folk religion unique to Beijing, where his sculptures are traditionally crafted. He is related to moon worship, as he is considered the moon rabbit of the goddess Chang'e.

According to Beijing folklore, the Jade Rabbit came down to Earth as a girl, riding on a horse, a tiger, or a lion, traveling through the city and saving many from a serious and dangerous epidemic, thus Beijingers make statuettes of a rabbit wearing armor and riding a tiger in tribute.

https://yauatcha.com/symbolism-of-the-rabbit/#:~:text=The%20rabbit%20is%20often%20used,with%20a%20mortar%20and%20pestle.