Disclaimer: this is an extremely wide-spread tale, and while I'm doing my best to stay as true to each culture's version of the story, there's a possibility I may miss or get something wrong. If I do feel free to correct me. This is also far from a complete list.
'
'
'
The Rabbit on the Moon
'
While most of us seem more familiar with the concept of the man on the moon, the notion of there being a rabbit on the moon is just as pervasive, particularly (though not exclusively) in Asian cultures. So persistent is the mythology surrounding this creature, it has even worked it's way into modern media, featuring in iconic games such as "Okami" and "To The Moon."
'
How the rabbit got on the moon, and even what it's purpose there is varies from tale to tale and culture to culture.
Aztec:
'
'
The ancient Aztecs told at least two tales of the rabbit on the moon. Both involve Aztec deities.
'
The first invokes the deity Tecciztecatl. It is more dissimilar from tales of other cultures, so we'll begin here.
'
The Aztec at one time believed that the sun was created from a deity. When the previous sun reaches its demise, a new deity must take it's place.
'
In the tale of Tecciztecatl, both he and another deity, Nanauatl, were both nominated for the sacrifice. Nanauatl was poor for a deity, and considered inferior, and therefore expendable, and so was nominated. Tecciztecatl, however, insisted that he should be the one to become the sun.
'
They built the fire the chosen deity was to be sacrificed in, but when it came time for Tecciztecatl to step into the flames, fear overcame him and he hesitated. Nanauatl stepped into the flames before him, and Tecciztecatl followed after, creating two suns in the sky.
(Cont)
Angered at Tecciztecatl, the other gods threw a rabbit at him, the imprint left behind darkening him, cursing him to forever be duller than the sun, leaving him only visible at night.
The second Aztec tale bears far greater resemblance to that of several other cultures. It tells the story of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, who chose to walk on the earth in the form of a man. After wandering for so long in the desert, Quetzalcoatl's human body began to suffer. Hungry and thirsty, he stopped on a path. A small rabbit nearby noticed his plight and offered to share some of it's grass. Quetzalcoatl refused, knowing grass would not be a suitable meal for a human. When the rabbit asked what Quetzalcoatl would do, he told it he would most likely die.
'
Concerned, the rabbit offers itself as a meal instead. Moved by this, Quetzalcoatl reveals his true form. Picking up the rabbit, he lifts it high, so high it reaches the moon. When he lowers it down again he tells it its kindness will not be forgotten, and will live on through the mark left behind on the surface of the moon.
Japan/Korea/Vietnam
'
'
The tale of the rabbit on the moon in these countries is not so dissimilar to that of Quetzalcoatl. While the start of the tale varies (some say the animals were trying to prove their faith, others say they merely took pity on a starving man), the basic elements are the same:
'
A rabbit, a monkey, and a jackal (sometimes a fox) encounter a man who is starving. The monkey quickly gathers fruit from the trees to offer the man. The Jackal/Fox in some accounts brings the man fish, in others he steals the food instead.
'
The rabbit, however, only knows how to gather grass. Knowing this will not be suitable for a human to eat, the rabbit throws itself upon the fire the man has built, offering itself as a meal instead.
(Cont)
Here the tale diverges slightly again. Some say the Emperor of the Heaven noticed the rabbit's great sacrifice. Moved, he saves the rabbit from the fire, preventing it from burning the animal, and appointing the rabbit to be the guardian of the moon in recognition of it's sacrifice.
'
Others say the starving man instead is the one to pull the rabbit from the fire. He thanks the rabbit for it's kindness, and does not eat it, instead taking it to live with him on the moon.
In Japan it is believed there the rabbit remains, pounding away at a pestle and mortar, making mochi or rice cakes. In Korea it is also believed the rabbit makes mochi beneath the boughs of a Gyesu Tree. The rabbit is often present in designs and toys of their Autumn Festival, which in part celebrates the moon.
'
'The Vietnamese version of this tale is very similar, except that it begins with the rabbit (Tho trang) having a gathering with his friends when the cries for help from the starving beggar get their attention. At the end of the tale, the beggar is revealed to be a fairy, who takes the rabbit to the moon.
China
'
'
The white rabbit, also known as "the jade rabbit," the Chinese tale follows the previous ones quite closely. This tale begins with the Jade Emperor, however.
'
Responsible for preparing the elixir of life, the Jade Emperor wished for help in this task. Humans, however, were prone to corruption, so instead he sought to find an animal who could be trusted.
'
Uncertain which animal would be best suited to the task, the Jade Emperor decided to have a test. Disguising himself as a starving beggar, he goes to the earth, crying out for help until three animals come to his aid: a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit.
(Cont)
Here the tales merge, to the point where the rabbit throws itself upon the fire. Moved, and knowing he had found the most noble of creatures, the Emperor reveals his true nature. He takes the rabbit back to the moon, where it sets to work making the elixir of life. So pleased is the emperor with the rabbit's work, that he makes it's fur the most dazzling white, causing the very surface of the moon to glow from it's splendour, and earned it the name "the jade rabbit."
'
Other variants of the tale say the rabbit, aside from making the elixir of life, exists as a companion of Chang'e - goddess of the moon. There are also tales of people praying for the rabbit to come and aid them during times of plague and disease, which the rabbit does, visiting each home one by one to cure the sick, asking for nothing but clothing as payment before it returns to the moon.
Cree:
'
'
In Cree legend, a rabbit had a wish to visit the moon. However, though it asked, none were willing to take him, until it eventually found the Crane. The Crane agreed, and had the rabbit hold it's legs. The journey was quite long, however, and the rabbit somewhat heavy. By the time they reached the moon, the weight of the rabbit had caused the Crane's legs to stretch and become long. The rabbits paws, in turn, had become bloody from hanging on for so long. However, it still reached out and touched the Crane upon the head, leaving behind a crimson stain, which the Crane bears to this day.
I post multiple replies in a row so I can add the entirety of the text without people posting in the middle of it <.< this was a longer one so I wasn't sure how much space I'd need. believe it or not there is occasionally a method to my madness
https://joannamay.com/product/the-hare-in-moon/
'
Other reference photo:
https://taniamarieartist.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/moon-rabbit_on_moon-makiepencollector-blogspot-com1.jpg
'
'
'
The Rabbit on the Moon
'
While most of us seem more familiar with the concept of the man on the moon, the notion of there being a rabbit on the moon is just as pervasive, particularly (though not exclusively) in Asian cultures. So persistent is the mythology surrounding this creature, it has even worked it's way into modern media, featuring in iconic games such as "Okami" and "To The Moon."
'
How the rabbit got on the moon, and even what it's purpose there is varies from tale to tale and culture to culture.
'
'
The ancient Aztecs told at least two tales of the rabbit on the moon. Both involve Aztec deities.
'
The first invokes the deity Tecciztecatl. It is more dissimilar from tales of other cultures, so we'll begin here.
'
The Aztec at one time believed that the sun was created from a deity. When the previous sun reaches its demise, a new deity must take it's place.
'
In the tale of Tecciztecatl, both he and another deity, Nanauatl, were both nominated for the sacrifice. Nanauatl was poor for a deity, and considered inferior, and therefore expendable, and so was nominated. Tecciztecatl, however, insisted that he should be the one to become the sun.
'
They built the fire the chosen deity was to be sacrificed in, but when it came time for Tecciztecatl to step into the flames, fear overcame him and he hesitated. Nanauatl stepped into the flames before him, and Tecciztecatl followed after, creating two suns in the sky.
(Cont)
'
Concerned, the rabbit offers itself as a meal instead. Moved by this, Quetzalcoatl reveals his true form. Picking up the rabbit, he lifts it high, so high it reaches the moon. When he lowers it down again he tells it its kindness will not be forgotten, and will live on through the mark left behind on the surface of the moon.
'
'
The tale of the rabbit on the moon in these countries is not so dissimilar to that of Quetzalcoatl. While the start of the tale varies (some say the animals were trying to prove their faith, others say they merely took pity on a starving man), the basic elements are the same:
'
A rabbit, a monkey, and a jackal (sometimes a fox) encounter a man who is starving. The monkey quickly gathers fruit from the trees to offer the man. The Jackal/Fox in some accounts brings the man fish, in others he steals the food instead.
'
The rabbit, however, only knows how to gather grass. Knowing this will not be suitable for a human to eat, the rabbit throws itself upon the fire the man has built, offering itself as a meal instead.
(Cont)
'
Others say the starving man instead is the one to pull the rabbit from the fire. He thanks the rabbit for it's kindness, and does not eat it, instead taking it to live with him on the moon.
'
'The Vietnamese version of this tale is very similar, except that it begins with the rabbit (Tho trang) having a gathering with his friends when the cries for help from the starving beggar get their attention. At the end of the tale, the beggar is revealed to be a fairy, who takes the rabbit to the moon.
'
'
The white rabbit, also known as "the jade rabbit," the Chinese tale follows the previous ones quite closely. This tale begins with the Jade Emperor, however.
'
Responsible for preparing the elixir of life, the Jade Emperor wished for help in this task. Humans, however, were prone to corruption, so instead he sought to find an animal who could be trusted.
'
Uncertain which animal would be best suited to the task, the Jade Emperor decided to have a test. Disguising himself as a starving beggar, he goes to the earth, crying out for help until three animals come to his aid: a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit.
(Cont)
'
Other variants of the tale say the rabbit, aside from making the elixir of life, exists as a companion of Chang'e - goddess of the moon. There are also tales of people praying for the rabbit to come and aid them during times of plague and disease, which the rabbit does, visiting each home one by one to cure the sick, asking for nothing but clothing as payment before it returns to the moon.
'
'
In Cree legend, a rabbit had a wish to visit the moon. However, though it asked, none were willing to take him, until it eventually found the Crane. The Crane agreed, and had the rabbit hold it's legs. The journey was quite long, however, and the rabbit somewhat heavy. By the time they reached the moon, the weight of the rabbit had caused the Crane's legs to stretch and become long. The rabbits paws, in turn, had become bloody from hanging on for so long. However, it still reached out and touched the Crane upon the head, leaving behind a crimson stain, which the Crane bears to this day.