Tuesday 23 January 2018

兔 | tù

In Mandarin Chinese, (Pinyin: 🔊) is a word for “rabbit” or “hare”. The Rabbit is one of the twelve-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac and is associated with the earthly branch .

In Chinese folklore, 月兔 (yuètù), “moon rabbit”, is a creature that lives on the Moon, (yuè). According to Wikipedia,

it is often portrayed as a companion of the Moon goddess Chang’e, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her.

So it should come as no surprise that another, now obsolete, meaning of is “moon”. also has a different pronunciation (chān), corresponding to a different (also obsolete) meaning, “planet Mercury”.

evolved from a pictogram of a rabbit-like animal.

More photos related to moon, rabbits, zodiac and sea glass @ Shutterstock.

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