The Legend of the Jade Rabbit
The Rabbit That Inspired My Blog
Let me tell you a story about the rabbit that inspired my blog.
During my childhood in Taiwan, every year, on the day of the Moon Festival, families would come together to have a BBQ, eat pomelos and moon cakes, light fireworks, and watch the moon.
This was when we would hear about all the stories of how the Festival came to be. The most popular one was about Chang-e, a beautiful immortal who flew to the moon after stealing the Pellet of Immortality from her husband, Houyi, the famous archer who shot down the 9 suns in the sky.
The other stories with the Jade Rabbit and other characters on the moon seemed like add-on tales. We did not hear about them as often. You can read more about them here.
However, the story of the Jade Rabbit (JR), Chang-e’s constant companion, resonated with me the most.
How Did JR End Up On The Moon?
How did JR end up on the moon? One day, the Jade Emperor from the heavens disguised himself as a hungry and old traveller in the woods.
He wanted to find a worthy animal that could help him make the Elixir of Life for the immortals. As he cried in the forest, three animals came to his aid: a monkey, a fox, and a rabbit.
They went searching for food for the old man. The rabbit was the only one who could not find any food. She decided then to offer herself as a dish and launched herself into the open fire.
The Jade Emperor re-appeared in his true form and saved the rabbit. He was impressed by the rabbit’s noble act and decided she would be his help in making the Elixir of Life.
He took her to the moon to be away from humans wishing to steal the elixir and made the rabbit’s fur dazzling white. The heavenly glow that reflected off her white fur looked like precious jade.
All the heavenly beings started calling her Jade Rabbit. In time, Chang-e & JR became good friends on the moon.
Chang-e also enlisted JR’s help in making a Pellet of Immortality for her husband, Houyi, so they could be reunited.
The Elixir Of Life
When I was little, I wondered why Chang-e and JR became friends, as there were other immortals on the moon.
Sure, they keep each other company. But what else?
Chang-e does not seem to do much except to look pretty, whereas JR is working hard every day to make the Elixir of Life and testing out ways to make the Pellet of Immortality for Houyi.
I finally figured it out. Chang-e admired JR for her courage and something that Chang-e could not bring herself to face in her life on Earth. That was death.
Although in Chang-e’s story she immediately regretted swallowing the Pellet of Immortality, she still had to pay the price: being forever outcasted on the moon.
Chang-e is supposed to have been on the moon for at least 4000 years now. One lesson I see from her story is that whatever was worth preserving forever, 4000 years ago, is not so important now.
The same goes for those who searched long and hard for the Holy Grail. What do they want to preserve? Power, Beauty, Fame, and Fortune? Yet Chang-e is not happy with her eternal beauty and is still waiting for the day that she can be reunited with her love.
We Each Have an Unique Gift
What about JR? What was her motivation? Her story demonstrated her desire to contribute and to help. She gave up her life so readily for the old man.
That was the utmost altruistic behaviour, as one would attribute to a martyr, right?
It was not until recently, after re-reading the story many times, that I began asking: “Is self-sacrifice such a venerable act that you consider your own life so insignificant?”
Was her self-sacrifice necessary when more than enough food was gathered for the traveller?
Did he say he was still hungry? I understand her need to contribute, but perhaps she already did? She could have contributed in other ways, like being a wonderful cheerleader, the forest guide, or the old traveller’s warning system.
Intrinsic Motivation
From my research on the almighty Google, Rabbits are social animals, highly adaptable and resourceful, much like us humans.
They are very expressive with their feelings and needs as well. You can read about them here if you want to learn more.
And after all these years, JR is still on the moon making the Elixir of Life. Isn’t she getting bored? I am sure she could have asked the Jade Emperor to relieve her of her duty.
Maybe she does not want to leave her friend, Chang-e? That is not a strong reason to keep anyone going for eternity, especially when the company she keeps is not changing and makes everyone feel sorry for her.
What is JR’s internal motivation to keep doing the same thing day after day? I contemplated it for days.
Be Our Authentic Selves
The conclusion I reached was that she could be herself on the moon. She did not ask to be turned into a human, as sometimes happened in mythologies. We see most of the gods in human form.
She is making the Elixir of Life because she understands its significance to all immortals, and that is her contribution. She is also grateful for Jade Emperor’s saviour.
But that is not a debt. She does not have to perform this ‘duty’ forever.
To me, the intrinsic motivations that have kept JR going for thousands of years are:
- Being her true self
- Contributing to others: Making the Elixir of Life for the heavenly beings and being Chang-e’s cheer-leader
- Expressing and sharing her creativity: Finding new ways to make the Pellet of Immortality that would work for Houyi, Chang-e’s mortal husband
- Feeling grateful for Chang-e’s companionship, Jade Emperor’s saviour, and for the chance to live again.
I understand now why her story resonated so much with me because those are the qualities that I seek to achieve within myself.
Does her story resonate with you too?