- Rabbit in Japan -
Rabbits are loved as lucky animals all over the world and appear in various anecdotes. And in Japan, rabbits are also called "lucky charms that bring good luck.
- Relationship between the moon and rabbit -
In Japan, everyone has heard the story that "a rabbit lives on the moon" at least once. In Japan, the pattern on the surface of the moon looks like a rabbit making rice cakes.
This pattern is the part of the moon called "ocean. Oceans are different from those on Earth; there is no water, but rather magma ejected by volcanic eruptions that flows onto a low, flat surface, cools, and hardens. In contrast to the dark ocean, the bright part of the moon is called land.
In Asian countries such as Japan and China, the lunar sea is said to look like a rabbit, while in Europe it looks like a crab, in the U.S. like a woman's profile, and so on, depending on the country or region.
- Jugoya -
In Japan, there is an event called "Jugoya," in which people give thanks for the autumn harvest while viewing the moon, which is said to be the most beautiful of the year.
Rabbits also appear in the "Jugoya" songs that have been handed down from generation to generation. So why is the rabbit said to be in the moon? We will discuss its origin, the pattern of the moon, and the relationship between the rabbit and the moon.
- Rabbit anecdote -
The origin of the hare in the moon is a story from the Jataka myth, an Indian Buddhist sermon. The Jataka myth originated in B.C. and came to Japan, where it became the "Konjaku Monogatari-shu" (Ancient and Modern Tales) and folk tales from around the country. The following tale is included in the Konjaku Monogatari-Shu (Ancient and Modern Tales) as "Sanjyu Gyo Bosatsu Do Rabbit Yakishimin Gatari".
Once upon a time, a rabbit, a fox, and a monkey lived together in India, and the three of them practiced daily to follow the path of the bodhisattva, respecting each other as if they were their own parents or brothers. The god Teishakuten, who was watching them, was so impressed by their behavior that he decided to test them to see if they really had the heart of a Buddha.
The three monkeys gladly accepted his offer and went looking for food for the old man. The monkey brings fruits and nuts, and the fox brings fish.
The hare, however, cannot find anything for the old man to eat, even though he searches hard all over the mountain. The hare says, "The mountain is full of danger. If this situation continues, not only will he not find any food, but he will be caught and eaten by people and animals. One day, he asks the old man to make a fire so that he can find something to eat. The monkey and the fox built a fire, and the rabbit jumped into the fire to eat itself and died. Teishakuten then returned to his original form and projected his image into the moon to show the hare's benevolent behavior to all living creatures.
It is said that the rabbit is still in the moon today, and that the cloud-like substance on the surface of the moon is the smoke from the rabbit's burning death.
In Konjaku Monogatari, the rabbit dies, but there is another pattern in the stories passed down from place to place. Some say that the rabbit did not die because the fire was cooled by the divine power of Teishakuten, while others say that Teishakuten brought the rabbit back to life after it had died.
From these anecdotes, "Rabbit on the Moon" was born. The mysterious and beautiful moon is a symbol of good luck, and since it is also believed that wishes come true, the hare that lives there is also considered to be an animal that brings luck.
- Rabbit symbol -
In Japan, there are various other anecdotes related to the "rabbit," and these anecdotes have led to the following symbolic motifs.
Rabbits are believed to bring "good luck", "prosperity", "success", and "improvement". Other symbols in Japan include the following
Prayer for a baby or for prosperity: Rabbit is a symbol of fertility and life.
To ward off evil spirits: Rabbit's feet were believed to have magical powers and were carried around with people.
Marriage: from the legend of the Japanese White Rabbit.
Longevity: Because it was believed that the moon with the rabbit had a medicine for longevity.
Rabbits must have a great positive charm that touches the heartstrings of humans. Rabbit motifs are not only cute but also bring good luck.
Please look for various items with rabbit motifs.
And I also recommend you to spend a pleasant time with sake while watching the moon and thinking of rabbits.
