Hi ,
Greetings from snowy, overcast Bucharest. We miss the clear night sky so much that we've assembled some of our favorite facts about the moon. Check out this special Lunar Lagniappe.
The Man in the Moon
Many cultures in the Northern Hemisphere have traditionally seen the man on the moon. This is an example of pareidolia-- the tendency to see faces or patterns in an inanimate object. (Other examples include seeing pictures in clouds or seeing Jesus in a Cheeto.)
Moon Rabbits
However, the man on the moon is not the only lunar pareidolia. In both Asian and indigenous American cultures, people see a rabbit. In China, the rabbit is thought to be using a mortar and pestle to make medicine, while is Japan and Korea the rabbit is pounding rice cakes. The astronauts of Apollo 11 were on the lookout:
Houston: Among the large headlines concerning Apollo this morning, is one asking that you watch for a lovely girl with a big rabbit. An ancient legend says a beautiful Chinese girl called Chang-O has been living there for 4,000 years. It seems she was banished to the Moon because she stole the pill of immortality from her husband. You might also look for her companion, a large Chinese rabbit, who is easy to spot since he is always standing on his hind feet in the shade of a cinnamon tree. The name of the rabbit is not reported.
Michael Collins: Okay we'll keep a close eye out for the bunny girl.
Fast Facts
- Sailor Moon's human name (Usagi Tsukino) is a pun which means Moon Rabbit in Japanese
- The Chinese lunar rovers Yutu (Jade Rabbit) and Yutu-2 are named for the legend.
- Korean boy bad BTS reference the legend of the moon rabbit in their video IDOL. The members can even be heard chanting "tokki" (rabbit) in the background of the song.
Learn more about the story behind the moon rabbit as told in China, Japan, Korea, and Mexico.
Remember our next quiz is tomorrow: Monday, 11 January at 8:00 GMT.
Have a great week!
MJ and Jessica
0 comments