Rabbits are a significant part of the Chinese culture: Here is why
Many cultures across the world have an animal central to its religious beliefs. We all know that cows are considered sacred in Hinduism. Similarly, in the Chinese culture, rabbits are considered to be the usherers of good luck and fortune. They are a part of many Chinese traditions and are one of the 12 Chinese zodiacs. In folklore, rabbits are friends with the moon goddess, making them even more unique. Let’s find out how they are embedded in the Chinese culture and customs.
Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac!
Every new year in the Chinese lunar calendar represents one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, and the rabbit is the fourth. But why specifically the fourth? Now, there’s an intriguing backstory to it. According to legend, on his birthday, the ruler of heaven summoned all animals for a race. In total, 12 animals arrived and were asked to cross a raging river. The order in which they finished the race would determine the passage of time. Guess who grabbed fourth place? Yes, you are guessing it right. The rabbit. But you might be wondering how a rabbit could cross a river. Some folklores suggest that the dragon helped the rabbit when it struggled and floated away. It did so by releasing a big breath of air, which pushed the rabbit to the finishing line.
After every 12 years, the Year of the Rabbit occurs. And you are lucky because 2023 is the year of the rabbit!
Rabbit in Chinese art and customs
For centuries, rabbits have been featured in Chinese art and literature. Chinese characters for rabbits have been inscribed on bones or tortoise shells. And you’d be surprised to know that these date back to the 11th century Shang Dynasty! Quite ancient, right? In the past, the rabbit was often painted on the flags of armies. The rabbit was believed to protect those born during the Rabbit’s Year. To this day, many people adhere to rabbit-related customs. Han ethnic people (Han community of China) hang rabbit heads on their doors to ward off evil spirits. Does it sound weird? Do not fret, because these rabbit heads are made of dough!
Another popular rabbit-centred custom involves creating a pattern of a snake coiling a rabbit on paper for window decorations. You might also find some screens in China with these patterns. The rabbit’s popularity is far from over. It even has a role as a mascot. Yes, the rabbit is the mascot of the fishermen of Shandong province of China!
Rabbit and the moon: What’s the connect?
All of you must have seen a spot in the moon, right? According to ancient Chinese belief, that spot represents a rabbit. But how did a rabbit reach the moon? Well, this legend too has an interesting backstory. Well, there are many versions to of the legend. Let us tell you about the most popular one. There was a powerful archer named Hou Yi who had saved the humanity by shooting down nine of the 10 scorching suns that led to utter suffering. As a reward, the Queen of heaven bestowed the elixir of immortality upon him. But Hou Yi had no desire to become immortal and gave the elixir to his wife Chang'e. One day, a follower of her husband named Fenmeng, broke into their home to steal the elixir. In desperation, Chang’e drank the elixir to keep it from falling into the hands of an evil man and ran to the moon for shelter along with her companion, who happened to be a rabbit. And that is how the rabbit got its foot on the moon.