Furry, long-eared and nimbly athletic, rabbits have long been a favorite pet and subject of cartoons. In Korea, these cute creatures have been characterized as being rather frail yet clever, as well as a symbol of abundance for giving birth to dozens of offspring at a time. Hence, the Year of the Rabbit 2011 is expected to be fruitful one.
Rabbit tells time and space
“Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!” exclaims the pocket watch-bearing White Rabbit as he runs toward a rabbit hole in the Lewis Carroll tale of “Alice in Wonderland.” In Korea, the rabbit holds special meanings in terms of time and space.
It comes fourth among 12 zodiac animals and represents the month of February in the lunar calendar as well as “myosi,” the fourth division in the 24-hour clock or 5-7 a.m. It is also a protector of the eastern direction.
Myths and tales
Relic featuring a rabbit on the moon on display at the National Folk Museum of Korea, Seoul |
Interestingly, the furry animal is associated with, of all things, the liver. Local legend has it that rabbit liver nourished Kim Chun-chu, a 7th-century king of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.), back to life after he was wounded on a mission to save his kingdom.
In another popular folktale, the rabbit was kidnapped by a sea turtle to present his liver before the ill Dragon King of the Sea, but the clever creature managed to escape by lying that he left his liver on land and thus needed to go fetch it.
The animal also symbolizes the moon. The age-old tale of rabbits pounding the elixir of life in a large mortar beneath a laurel tree on the moon dates as far back as the 3rd century B.C. in Qin-era China. Many relics from the period include artworks and figurines featuring the rabbit.
The iconicism of the moon rabbit can be found in ancient Korea as well. As much as rabbits are known for giving birth to numerous offspring, many folk paintings from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) feature a pair of rabbits symbolizing intimate and harmonious relationships. A moon and/or laurel tree can often be found in the background.
Even today, a longtime favorite ice cream treat is Chaltteok Ice, featuring rabbits pestling rice cakes on the moon.
But the rabbit’s association with the moon, which symbolizes yin, isn’t completely positive.
Some old customs advise against inviting visitors into the house or using wooden plates and bowls on “sangmyoil,” the first rabbit day of the lunar rabbit year. Women were also forbidden from leaving the house and the practice continues to this day in some parts of Gyeonggi Province.
Special exhibition
The National Folk Museum of Korea in Samcheong-dong, northern Seoul, is hosting a special exhibition on the Year of the Rabbit.
Through Feb. 14, the museum is displaying various cultural relics featuring the rabbit, from rabbit-shaped “norigae” (traditional ornaments worn my women) and rabbit fur scarves to folk paintings featuring the animals on the moon.
“This has been held annually for each animal sign of the zodiac since 1999, which was the Year of the Rabbit. It is the museum’s longest running serial exhibition and we’re pleased to celebrate the 12th year marking a return to the rabbit,” said Kim Yoon-jung, a researcher at the museum.
“We encourage families with children to visit the exhibition to learn about the zodiac, which is a time-honored cultural tradition in Asia.”
Call (02) 3704-3114 or visit www.nfm.go.kr (Korean and English) for more information.
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