The Myth of the Moon Rabbit

The myth of the moon rabbit is prevalent in various cultures, particularly in East Asian folklore. It’s a tale that’s been passed down through generations and has variations in different cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It can also be found in other cultures around the world such as Indigenous American cultures.

Many types of tales (myths, legends, fables, fairy tales and tall tales) are handed down from one generation to the next and differ in context. So what exactly is a myth? In a nutshell, a myth is a type of storytelling that is not based in fact. Lucky for us bunny loving people, tales about rabbits have been around for millennia such as the legend of Hy-Brasil and it’s Giant Black Rabbits.

The basic myth of the moon rabbit is this: one night the man on the moon came down to earth disguised as a beggar. He chanced upon a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit and asked for some food. The fox brought him fish, the monkey brought fruit, but the rabbit didn’t have anything to give except grass. The rabbit told the man to build a fire, then threw himself onto the flames to offer himself to the man. Amazed by the rabbit’s generosity, the beggar transformed back into the man on the moon and pulled the rabbit from the fire. To honor the rabbit’s kindness, the man on the moon carried the rabbit back to the moon to live with him. Now, if you look at the full moon, you can see the outline of the rabbit pounding mochi on the moon.

Moon Rabbit Myths

As there are many different cultures around the world, the myth also has different variations.

India

In the Indian version, which is found in the Buddhist Jataka Tales, the god Shakra came to earth disguised as an old man and encountered a jackal, a monkey, an otter and a rabbit. The jackal brought him a lizard and pot of milk, the otter brought a fish and the monkey brought mangoes. Again the rabbit had nothing to give so he jumped into the fire to sacrfifice himself. The old man was touched by the rabbit’s virtue and thus he carved the image of the rabbit on the moon. The rabbit is believed to be a Bodhisattva (on his path to buddha hood).

China

The Chinese version appears in the Chu Ci (about 475-221 BCE). The rabbit is also referred to as the Jade Rabbit. According to legend, the moon rabbit is a companion to the moon goddess Chang’e and pounds the elixir of life for her in its pestle. The rabbit’s image is said to be visible on the moon’s surface, particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a significant holiday in Chinese culture.

Japan

In Japanese folklore, the story is slightly different but still revolves around a rabbit living on the moon. Here, the rabbit is often depicted as making mochi (a type of rice cake) instead of the elixir of immortality as a reminder of his kindness and selflessness. The myth is associated with the Tsukimi or Otsukimi festival, also known as the Moon Viewing Festival, where people gather to appreciate the full moon, which is often accompanied by stories of the moon rabbit.

Korea

Similarly, in Korean folklore, there’s a myth about a rabbit living on the moon, which is believed to be pounding ingredients in a mortar to make rice cakes. The Korean rabbit is known as Daltokki. This story is associated with the Chuseok festival, also known as the Korean Harvest Festival or Korean Thanksgiving, which is celebrated with offerings of food and a time for families to gather.

Vietnam

There are 3 versions of the moon rabbit in Vietnamese culture, however the first version is the most similar to the others we have discussed. It is said there were 3 fairies who turned themselves into old men and befriended a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. Fox and monkey had food to give to the men, but since rabbit had none, he threw himself into the fire. The fairies were moved by the rabbit and took him to the moon to become friends with the Moon Lady.

Indigenous American Moon Rabbit Versions

The Mayans

Although there is not a tale specifically of the moon rabbit, the Mayan’s depicted a rabbit with the moon goddess in their art, glyphs and inscriptions.

The Aztec

The Aztecs believed their god Quetzalcoatl lived on Earth as a man. One day he started on a journey and, after traveling on foot for some time, became tired and hungry. Since there was nothing to drink and no food around, he thought he would die. However, the rabbit was grazing and found the man. She offered herself as food to save his life. Quetzalcoatl, humbled by the rabbit’s offer to sacrifice herself for his well-being, then took the rabbit to the moon and brought her back to Earth, telling her, “You are just a rabbit, but you will be remembered by everyone. Your image is in the light of the moon for all people of all times.”

Other Rabbit and Moon Tales

The Native American Cree, The Mi’kmaq of Canada as well as a second Aztec story, all have myths regarding rabbits and the moon however, they are not the same tale as the moon rabbit. In fact, the other Aztec story, found in the Florentine Codex is not a very nice one so I won’t tell you about it.

The Moon Rabbit and The Lunar Landing

When Apollo 11 was inflight to the moon, a conversation was had between Buzz Aldrin and the mission control in Houston. The following is the transcript:

Houston: Among the large headlines concerning Apollo this morning, there’s one asking that you watch for a lovely girl with a big rabbit. An ancient legend says a beautiful Chinese girl called Chang-o has been living there for 4000 years. It seems she was banished to the Moon because she stole the pill of immortality from her husband. You might also look for her companion, a large Chinese rabbit, who is easy to spot since he is always standing on his hind feet in the shade of a cinnamon tree. The name of the rabbit is not reported.

“Buzz” Aldrin: Okay. We’ll keep a close eye out for the bunny girl.

Movie About the Moon Rabbit

Over the Moon is a 9 time award nominated animated musical film that can be seen on Netflix. It draws inspiration from various Chinese folklore and mythology, including the legend of the Moon Goddess Chang’e and the Moon Rabbit. In the movie, the Moon Rabbit plays a role as a companion and is depicted as a cute and loyal character. It is one of my favorites!

Final Thoughts

Overall, the myth of the Moon Rabbit symbolizes various themes such as the moon’s influence on agriculture, the beauty of nature, and the longing for immortality or eternal life. It’s a charming tale that has been passed down through generations and continues to be celebrated in various cultural festivals and traditions.