A32A — Moon Rabbit, A751.2.

The figure or imprint of a rabbit or hare is visible on the lunar disc.

Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.

A32.  A figure or imprint of some creature or object is visible on the lunar disc. Statistical calculations also include motifs A32A – A32J (a rabbit, frog, predatory animal, human, tree, etc. are visible on the moon).
A32a.  The figure or imprint of a rabbit or hare is visible on the lunar disc.
A32b.  The figure or imprint of a toad or frog is visible on the lunar disc; the moon is associated with this animal.
A32b1.  A woman sits (jumps) on the face (back) of the Moon Man and is now visible in the silhouette of the moon spots.
A32c.  The figures of a man and a dog are visible (or should have been visible) on the lunar disc.
A32c1.  The figure or imprint of a predatory mammal (fox, wolf, dog, coyote, jaguar, lion) is visible on the lunar disc. Either this animal is associated with the moon, belongs to it. See motif A34.
A32d.  The figure or imprint of an anthropomorphic creature is visible on the lunar disc.
A32d1.  Cain and Abel are associated with the moon, usually distinguishable (both or only Cain) in the silhouette of lunar spots.
A32d2.  A man with a pitchfork in his hands can be seen in the silhouette of the moon's spots.
A32dd.  The lunar disc shows the figure or imprint of an anthropomorphic character carrying a bundle of wood or brushwood.
A32de.  A headless man is visible on the lunar disc.
A32e.  On the lunar (rarely: solar) disc, a character holding an object or animal is visible. See motif A32D.
A32f.  On the lunar disc, a character is visible who has gone to fetch water and/or is holding a vessel for liquid in his hands. See motif A32D.
A32g.  On the lunar disc, a character can be seen holding onto a tree or bush and ending up on the moon with them. See motif A32D.
A32h.  A tree, bush, branch, snag, etc. are visible on the lunar disc. See motif A32G.
A32i.  A shepherd (shepherd and girl, shepherd and his flock, dogs) can be seen on the lunar disc.
A32j.  A shaman with a tambourine ascends to the moon and remains there, visible in the silhouette of the lunar spots.
A32k.  A character, discernible in the silhouette of the moon's spots, first headed for the sun and only then reached the moon, or the Sun and the Moon argued over who he should belong to.
A32l.  The silhouette of a certain character is visible on the solar disc. Or it is said that the character fell into the sun and remained there.
A32m.  The moon is called the "Gypsy sun".

This motif has been recorded in 65 traditions: Aramaic (Syrians), Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Yao, Makua, Ila (Baila), Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe, Safwa, Mkulwe, Ngonde, Kinga, Nyakusa, Nyamwanga, Aka, Baka (Badjue) and other Western (Bantu speaking) Pygmies, Teda (Tedaga), Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Burmese, Intha, Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Mon, Khmer, Palaung (De Ang, Deang), Viet, Muong, Semang, Senoi, Bhuiya (now Aryans, originally Munda; Rahman 1955: 203), Baiga, Bhaina, Bhumia (subgroup of Baiga, incl Bharia, formerly Munda, now speak Indo-Aryan languages of neighboring groups), Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Kannada, Lingayat, Halakki, Toda, Kota, Kuruba (Kurumba), Badaga, Maravar, Pulaya, Kadar, Marathi (incl. Bhamta; incl. Mumbai area), Hindi-speaking peoples and casts (incl. Teli, Parahiya; incl. Chhattisgarhi) of Northern and West-Central India, Sinhalese; Vedda, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Koreans, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians), Western Ukrainians, Byelarusians, Belarusians, Tats, Kalmyk, Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Darkhad, Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa, Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir, Chukchi, Santee, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Pomo, Tepecano, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Tepehua, Totonac, Huastec (Teenek), Gulf Nahuatl, Chinantec, Mazatec, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Huave, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Lacandon, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Yaruro, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, China, Japan, Russian Federation