In Chinese astrology, the year 2011 is said to be the Year of the Rabbit.
According to Chinese folklore, the white Hare with its gleaming fur is a divine creature that has lived 1,000 years. Its coat was blue if it lived only 500 years, according to author Ruth Q. Sun in The Asian Animal Zodiac.
Legend has it that during the Chou Dynasty, white hares once frisked on the streets of Ch’ang-an, the capital city. Thereafter, it became customary that whenever a white hare was found, it would be caught and delivered to the emperor.
Red hares and black hares were also deemed auspicious.
Ancient Chinese writings also cited that a red hare, phoenix and unicorn signify “harbingers of peace and prosperity”.
The black hare (from the North Pole), supposedly rarer than the white hare, was believed to bring greetings from the moon goddess, Ch’ang-O (or Chang’e).
Rabbit tales
The Rabbit on the Moon
The most common Chinese folklore on the Rabbit is that of the large white Hare that prepares the elixir of life for Ch’ang-O.
The Japanese version tells of the Hare that pounds rice to make sticky rice cakes or mochi.
This hare also has to polish the moon regularly with horsetail plants to keep it “clean and bright”.
White Hare and Moon Deva
In India, Sanskrit inscriptions suggest that the Hare was associated with primitive cults which saw a resemblance between the animal and the visible markings on the moon, writes author Ruth Sun.
The 12 zodiacal gods of the Brahmans include a moon deva named Soma or Chandra, who holds a white hare and reposes on a crescent moon.
The Virtuous Rabbit
In the Buddhist’s Jataka Tales, a rabbit and his friends – a monkey, an otter and a jackal – performed charity on a full moon’s day hoping for a great reward.
When an old man begged for food, the monkey gathered fruits from the trees, the otter collected fish and the jackal pilfered a lizard and a pot of milk-curd.
The rabbit decided to offer its own body (instead of grass) by throwing itself into a fire but it was not burnt.
The old man was Sakra (or Indra), lord of the devas (deities), in disguise. Touched by the rabbit’s self-sacrifice, he drew the likeness of the rabbit on the moon.
It is said the lunar image is still draped in the smoke that rose when the rabbit leapt into the fire.
Rabbit’s Evil Eye
In northern Japan, the Ainu (an indigenous people) believe that the Rabbit has an evil eye to cast spells on people. However, the rabbit’s foot is also regarded as a good luck charm and amulet against witchcraft.
Lord Rabbit
This year, Lord Rabbit or the legendary Jade Rabbit from the moon, makes a comeback in Beijing as the Chinese capital gears up for the new lunar year.
According to legend, Lord Rabbit was sent down by the moon goddess, Chang’e, to help Beijing survive a deadly plague.
Grandpa Rabbit
Lord Rabbit is also known as Grandpa Rabbit (Tu Yer in Chinese), a popular toy and mascot in Beijing.
Folklore has it that the moon goddess Chang’e sent Jade Rabbit to save mankind.
When it arrived in Beijing, the Rabbit cured many people and ended the plague.
She declined gifts but borrowed clothes to wear – sometimes dressing as a man, sometimes a woman. So Jade Rabbit was affectionately known as Grandpa Rabbit or Grandma Rabbit.
After completing her mission, Jade Rabbit returned to the moon.
On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the people worship Jade Rabbit and made food offerings to commemorate Jade Rabbit.
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