By Jennifer Tseng
Remember the days before video chats or smartphones?
Ever since the olden days, solitary travelers and expatriates far from home, in moments of loneliness, have gazed up at the moon and felt a comforting sense of connection, knowing that even though their loved ones may be miles and oceans apart, the same moon lights the way home for them. After all, no matter where someone is on Earth, there’s only one moon to share.
The Luminous Orb
In traditional Chinese culture, the moon is frequently viewed as a reflection of human life and society—an endless cycle that begins in darkness, reaches its peak luminosity and fullness, and then gradually fades back into the void—mirroring the undulating rhythms of human existence: life and death, coming together and parting ways, beginnings and endings.
As the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi poignantly expressed in his poem “The Water Melody,” written while yearning for the companionship of his elder brother far away:
“People gather and part, just as the moon waxes and wanes, an immutable fact since the olden days. May we all live long. And though thousands of miles apart, celebrate the moon’s beauty together.”
As we grew from children to busy adults, partings became the norm—much like the moon’s imperfect sphere—while reunions remained rare. Only occasionally does the moon appear perfectly full, symbolizing family gatherings and a moment to be cherished.
Of Almanacs and Moons
Nevertheless, not everything about the moon is so bleak. In ancient times, agriculture and harvest depended heavily on moon phases. This tradition is based on the belief that the moon’s gravitational pull affects water and soil, which in turn impacts crop growth.
Planting under the energy of a waxing gibbous moon is said to nurture the growth of crops and trees, while the waning moon, the resting phase, is best suited for harvest. This lunar phase is said to improve the nutritional value of the plants and maximize yield.
Each year, on the 15th day of the lunar month of August, the moon shines its brightest. In many Asian countries, it’s dubbed the Moon Festival—a time to get together with loved ones, honor life, and celebrate the year’s harvest.
Legend of the Jade Rabbit
Whether in seriousness or in fun, the moon has captivated the imagination of civilizations throughout history. Many cultures have speculated about the magical beings that reside in the moon’s icy palace. According to a Chinese legend, the Jade Rabbit, named for its jade-white fur, lives there and spends its day preparing medicine with a mortar and pestle.
Indeed, in ancient Chinese oracle bone script, the character for moon, or “yue,” is depicted as a first-quarter moon with a short vertical line in the center, supposedly an honorable representation of our furry friend.
Some say this bunny is an incarnation of a beautiful, immortal woman condemned to live on the moon forever for stealing the elixir of eternal youth. While in another version of the tale, the rabbit is the youngest daughter of a deity. Moved by the immortal woman’s loneliness in the icy palace, the deity sent his daughter to the moon to keep her company.
In China, the earliest mention of the Jade Rabbit appeared in the “Collection of Yuefu Poems” from the Han dynasty. According to the text, the rabbit produces “toad tablets,” believed to have pain-relieving properties and grant everlasting life. Even today, rabbit droppings (hare deporis) are used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat eye ailments and detoxify the body.
While we may never know if a beautiful maiden lives on the moon, correlating legends from other cultures seem to confirm that, if nothing else, there is for sure a rabbit.
A Mexican Rendition
In the Aztec legend, our world is governed by successive sun gods. The current one is Tonatiuh, the fifth sun. Long ago, after the fourth sun perished in a great flood, the gods of the world gathered together to select the next volunteer.
Huehueteotl, the fire god, kindled a sacrificial bonfire and declared that whoever willingly leap into the fire would be chosen. Though the high-ranking gods turned away, two deities stepped forward. Nanahuatzin, the humblest of the gods, leaped bravely into the fire, while Tecuciztecatl, the Lord of the Snail, hesitated in fear. Nevertheless, proud and unwilling to be outdone, Tecuciztecatl quickly mustered his courage and followed.
From then on, two suns shone equally bright in the sky. Fearing that the sweltering heat would cause the earth to burn, the gods threw a rabbit at Tecuciztecatl, causing his flame to dim and become the moon. Even today, you can see the imprint of that rabbit on the moon’s surface.
What the Japanese Say
One night, the Master of the Heavens descended to earth and disguised himself as a frail pauper with a head of grey hair. As he wandered through the woods, he approached a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit and begged them for food.
Eager to help, the agile fox quickly brought him a fish from the stream, while the monkey offered sweet fruits and berries from the trees. The rabbit, however, searched tirelessly for three days and nights yet could find nothing but grass.
Lamenting her uselessness, the rabbit asked the fox and monkey to build a fire with the hay she found. Then, when the fire was crackling, the rabbit leaped into the fire to offer herself up as meat for the old beggar. Stunned and moved by the rabbit’s kindness, the Master of the Heavens revealed his true identity and plucked the rabbit from the fire.
To honor her generosity and instill the value of compassion in future generations, the old deity took the rabbit to live with him on the moon. Now, on a full moon night, you can see the rabbit’s silhouette on the moon with tendrils of smoke from the fire still faintly visible beside her.
As crowds gather to witness the supermoon on the evening of September 17 —when the full moon’s orbit is closest to Earth—don’t forget to share these legends with your family over mooncakes and pomelo.
After all, it’s through the retelling of these age-old stories that our ancestors kept tradition and humanity’s inexplicable bond with the moon alive. As you look up to the sky each night, may that gentle moonlight guide you through life’s ups and downs with its warmth and grace. Happy Moon Festival!
