Now Viewing: moon_rabbitTag type: General Tsuki no Usagi (月のウサギ) The Moon rabbit, also called the Jade Rabbit, is a rabbit that lives on the moon in folklore, based on pareidolia that identifies the markings of the moon as a rabbit. The story exists in many cultures, particularly in East Asian folklore, where it is seen pounding in a mortar and pestle. In Chinese folklore, it is often portrayed as a companion of the moon goddess Chang'e, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her; but in Japanese and Korean versions it is just pounding mochi. The earliest mention that there is a rabbit on the moon appears in the Chu Ci, a Western Han anthology of Chinese poems from the Warring States period, which notes that along with a toad, there is a rabbit on the moon who constantly pounds herbs for the immortals. In the Buddhist Śaśajâtaka (Jataka Tale 316), a monkey, an otter, a jackal, and a rabbit resolved to practice charity on the day of the full moon (Uposatha), believing a demonstration of great virtue would earn a great reward. When an old man begged for food, the monkey gathered fruits from the trees and the otter collected fish, while the jackal wrongfully pilfered a lizard and a pot of milk-curd. The rabbit, who knew only how to gather grass, instead offered its own body, throwing itself into a fire the man had built. The rabbit, however, was not burnt. The old man revealed himself to be Śakra (one of the five high Deva or high level Buddhist deity) and, touched by the rabbit's virtue, drew the likeness of the rabbit on the moon for all to see. It is said the lunar image is still draped in the smoke that rose when the rabbit cast itself into the fire. The Clover Studio/Capcom PlayStation_2 game Okami references much Japanese folklore. In it, the moon god, Yumigami, is a rabbit pounding out sushi rice. This rabbit spirit of the Chinese_zodiac grants the player the ability to draw a crescent in the sky to summon the moon. Tsukino_Usagi (who's name is a pun on Tsuki no Usagi) from Bishoujo_Senshi_Sailor_Moon is named after the legend. The game Touhou Eiyashou ~ Imperishable_Night as well as the manga Silent_Sinner_in_Blue, Cage_in_Lunatic_Runagate and Inaba_of_the_Moon_and_Inaba_of_the_Earth all feature moon rabbits such as Reisen_Udongein_Inaba (鈴仙・優曇華院) and Reisen (レイセン ). A moon rabbit can be seen pounding mochi for dango during the ending credits of Clannad. In Toriyama_Akira's Dragon_Ball series (at the end of the very first manga volume), young Goku defeats an evil character named Boss Rabbit by taking him to the Moon. In episode 11 of the anime series Paranoia_Agent, a moon is shown featuring the distinct shape of a mortar-pounding rabbit. The Rabbids, rabbit like creatures from the Rayman video_game series, make their home on the moon, having come down to earth to terrorize most of humanity. In Kurumada_Masami's manga ''Saint_Seiya'', female guardians of the moon named the Satellites appear, wearing headpieces shaped as rabbit_ears in reference to the moon rabbit. In the MMORPG MapleStory, a Party Quest known as Henesys PQ features a Moon Bunny or rabbit making Rice cakes while the players are protecting him. In the anime series Beast_Wars_II, a rabbit transformer lives on the moon. In Final_Fantasy_IV, Hummingways, who live on the moon, resemble rabbits. Other Wiki Information Last updated: 04/13/11 1:10 AM by jedi1357 This entry is not locked and you can edit it as you see fit. |
     
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