This Chinese New Year is Lunar New Year. Its auspicious symbol is Rabbit. It is year of the rabbit.
Lunar New Year refers to the beginning of the year based on a Lunar Calendar. Lunar Calendar is a calendar which is based on cycles of the lunar phase. Lunar means “connected with the Moon”.
There is a close and interesting connection between the moon and rabbit in many ancient myths.
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. This notion is supported by later texts, including the Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era encyclopedia of the Song Dynasty. Han Dynasty poets call the rabbit on the moon the Jade Rabbit or the Gold Rabbit.
The Buddhist Jātaka Tale 316 also clearly shows a connection between the moon and rabbit.
The Rabbit in the Moon (Sasapandhita Jātaka)
Long long ago, the Bodhisatta was born as a rabbit in a forest.
One evening, the rabbit looked at the sky and realized that the next day was the full moon. The rabbit resolved to keep the precepts (Uposatha) and offer food to any beggars who came to him, on the day of the full moon, believing that his alms-giving would bring a great reward.
Early the next morning, the rabbit went out and began grazing on grass as usual. While he was eating, he thought, “I cannot possibly offer grass to a wandering mendicant! I don’t have any rice, oil, or anything else to give. If a beggar comes seeking food, I will have to give him my own flesh!”
As soon as this splendid idea came to the rabbit, Sakka’s white marble throne became hot. Sakka realized that the reason for this was the rabbit’s virtue, and he decided to test him. He disguised himself as an old Brahmin and went to the rabbit’s warren. The old Brahmin begged for food. The rabbit replied, “Brahmin, I have no rice, oil, or beans to give, but, today I will give you a gift that I have never given before. I will give what is freely mine to give! Go, friend, pile up some wood, and kindle a fire. When it is burning well, call me. I will gladly sacrifice myself by jumping into the flames. When by body is roasted, you may eat my flesh.”
The old Brahmin created a heap of burning coals and then he called the rabbit.
The rabbit approached the fire. Three times, he shook himself so that any insects in his fur would be spared. Without hesitation, he leaped directly into the center of burning coals. Despite the flames which flared up the embers, not a single hair on his body was burnt. Then, amazed, the old Brahmin revealed himself to be Sakka and told that he came to put his virtue to the test.
Touched by the rabbit's virtue, Sakka drew the likeness of the rabbit on the moon so that all may see his image throughout the whole eon.
Compiled by Ashin Manita
Lunar New Year refers to the beginning of the year based on a Lunar Calendar. Lunar Calendar is a calendar which is based on cycles of the lunar phase. Lunar means “connected with the Moon”.
There is a close and interesting connection between the moon and rabbit in many ancient myths.
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. This notion is supported by later texts, including the Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era encyclopedia of the Song Dynasty. Han Dynasty poets call the rabbit on the moon the Jade Rabbit or the Gold Rabbit.
The Buddhist Jātaka Tale 316 also clearly shows a connection between the moon and rabbit.The Rabbit in the Moon (Sasapandhita Jātaka)
Long long ago, the Bodhisatta was born as a rabbit in a forest.
One evening, the rabbit looked at the sky and realized that the next day was the full moon. The rabbit resolved to keep the precepts (Uposatha) and offer food to any beggars who came to him, on the day of the full moon, believing that his alms-giving would bring a great reward.
Early the next morning, the rabbit went out and began grazing on grass as usual. While he was eating, he thought, “I cannot possibly offer grass to a wandering mendicant! I don’t have any rice, oil, or anything else to give. If a beggar comes seeking food, I will have to give him my own flesh!”
As soon as this splendid idea came to the rabbit, Sakka’s white marble throne became hot. Sakka realized that the reason for this was the rabbit’s virtue, and he decided to test him. He disguised himself as an old Brahmin and went to the rabbit’s warren. The old Brahmin begged for food. The rabbit replied, “Brahmin, I have no rice, oil, or beans to give, but, today I will give you a gift that I have never given before. I will give what is freely mine to give! Go, friend, pile up some wood, and kindle a fire. When it is burning well, call me. I will gladly sacrifice myself by jumping into the flames. When by body is roasted, you may eat my flesh.”
The old Brahmin created a heap of burning coals and then he called the rabbit.
The rabbit approached the fire. Three times, he shook himself so that any insects in his fur would be spared. Without hesitation, he leaped directly into the center of burning coals. Despite the flames which flared up the embers, not a single hair on his body was burnt. Then, amazed, the old Brahmin revealed himself to be Sakka and told that he came to put his virtue to the test.
Touched by the rabbit's virtue, Sakka drew the likeness of the rabbit on the moon so that all may see his image throughout the whole eon.
Compiled by Ashin Manita
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