In this satirical tale, the rabbit appears as a clever animal symbolizing the powerless people, which manages to outwit a corrupt ruler. One of the most prominent creations featuring the rabbit is "Sugungga," which is one of the five surviving traditional narrative pansori forms from the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. Although the rabbit is portrayed sometimes as a victim of its own tricks backfiring, the long-eared animal is often viewed in a more positive light as a creature of wisdom, wit and agility. Koreans have long believed that some white rabbits live on the moon that make an elixir of immortality using mortars and pestles, and many paintings and songs, such as Yoon Guk-young's "Half Moon" (1924), center on these mystical creatures.Īlong with the tiger, the rabbit frequently appears in Korean literary works ranging from folk tales to "pansori," a traditional genre of musical storytelling. The rabbit also represents the moon and longevity, as evidenced by a Korean folk tale about the moon rabbit. The fact that the animal symbolizes February in the lunar calendar ― the month signaling the beginning of farming in an agricultural society ― and that it gives birth to offspring four to six times a year, explain why the rabbit is a beacon of fruitfulness. The rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac, representing east on the compass and 5 a.m. Given that the rabbit has been emblematic of prosperity, longevity and wisdom in Korea, 2023 is expected to be a time of fertility as well. "Ssangtodo," a portrayal of a pair of rabbits that symbolize conjugal love and a harmonious family / Courtesy of National Folk Museum of KoreaĢ023 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.
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