There are many tales in many countries about the Rabbit on the Moon. Whenever I look at the moon, I do see the rabbit. I imagine what he is doing and whether he has some rabbit friends with him? What do they do up there? Are they on the dark or light side of the moon?
I find the ancient Chinese legend of the Jade Rabbit extremely beautiful. In a few words, it tells of a rabbit on the moon pounding herbs with a mortar and pestle, to make the elixir of life for the moon goddess. This tale has inspired several of my silk paintings from Moon Rabbits, Sky Mountains, Rooftops in Paris to The Falling Rabbit.
For, if the rabbit who creates immortality were to fall on earth, where would he fall?
It would have to be in the place where he was most needed, where life was at a standstill, just waiting for that spark…
Here is the visual story of the Falling Rabbit.
