What was the significance of rabbits in ancient times?

"Rabbit" is a beautiful word in China. It is not only one of the twelve zodiac signs of human beings, but also closely related to human life and people's good hopes. The symbolic meaning of rabbits is closely related to their living habits and skills. The specific meaning is as follows:

1, rabbits are mostly symbols of the moon.

Because in the eyes of the ancients, the looming points on the moon are like jumping rabbits. Therefore, rabbits are feminine animals, and China, Africa, Egyptian, Greek, Celtic and other cultures all associate rabbits with menstruation and fertility.

In China, the rabbit symbolizes longevity.

In Taoism, rabbits can be used as immortal rabbits, and rabbits are allowed to mash drugs with mortar under laurel trees. Later, the rabbit gradually evolved into a symbol of the pharmaceutical industry.

The rabbit is a symbol of the savior's loyalty and self-sacrifice.

According to Buddhist legend, Sakyamuni stopped cooking in the forest after becoming a monk in his last life. When he was dying, the rabbit jumped into the fire and became cooked meat, saving the Buddha's life. In order to express the rabbit's spirit of sacrificing his life for righteousness, he is a vegetarian.

The rabbit is the first to be wronged.

The word "injustice" is a sign that a kind rabbit "speaks frankly and complains". Shuo Wen Jie Zi explains: "Unjust, unjust." The rabbit can't escape under the net fence, so it can only yield and can't stretch. Extended to injustice. So there are a series of words such as "wronged", "unjust", "rehabilitated" and "rehabilitated".

For a long time, China has been a country dominated by agriculture, so there are few economic factors in our ancestors' feelings and attitudes towards rabbits. In life, people like the lively and lovely image of rabbits, and hate the timidity and gaping of rabbits, just out of consideration for the appearance and habits of rabbits, and in order to keep consistent with the existing concepts in people's minds.

Therefore, in the traditional culture of China, people's likes and dislikes about the zodiac rabbits are mainly determined by the symbolic meaning represented by the rabbits.

Extended data

In the traditional culture of China, the shadow of the zodiac rabbit is everywhere. As early as the Shang Dynasty in the early feudal society in China, people created the hieroglyphics of rabbits through observation and understanding, and later gradually developed into the word "rabbit" today. Many Chinese characters are related to rabbits, such as exemption, delivery, injustice and escape.

"Rabbit" and "rabbit" are interlinked. Tu is the herb "rabbit silk", also known as "dodder", also known as "female radish" or "rabbit silk".

"Rabbit" corresponds to "Mao" in the twelve branches. In the Han Dynasty, Wang Chong said in Lun Heng, "Mao is also a rabbit." They make up our zodiac sign "Hairy Rabbit".

The word "Mao" depicts the image of the sprouting of unearthed vegetation. "Shuo Wen Jie Zi" said: "Mao, Mao also. In February, everything came out. " At twelve o'clock, "Mao" means 5-7 am. Therefore, "Mao" means spring, representing the dawn and full of infinite vitality. These words are directly or indirectly related to "rabbit". Or from "Rabbit". Still with the "rabbit" temperament.

There are also many two-part allegorical sayings related to rabbits, such as:

Male prostitutes run all over the mountain-or go to the lair?

Rabbits don't eat grass beside their nests-be merciful (green), which means not to hurt villagers and neighbors. Generally speaking, the use of heaven is derogatory.

The rabbit climbed the hill-shuttled up.

Rabbit's legs-run fast.

Rabbit's ears-hear far.

Rabbit's mouth-three pieces

The rabbit plays the flute-his mouth is not tight.

Rabbit's tail-it won't grow.

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