兔 Rabbit

Characteristics

The Rabbit is popularly linked with gentleness, care and quiet elegance. In folk descriptions it is gracious and considerate, peace-loving and a little reserved, preferring harmony to confrontation. These traits belong to the sign’s cultural image in tradition rather than to anyone in particular.

History

Fourth in the cycle and the earthly branch 卯 (mǎo), the Rabbit is bound up with the moon: the Jade Rabbit (玉兔) is said to live there pounding the elixir of immortality, an image especially loved at the Mid-Autumn Festival. The animal stands broadly for grace, longevity and gentle good fortune. In some neighbouring traditions this place in the cycle is held by the Cat instead.

In the Great Race

The Rabbit crossed the river by hopping from stone to stone and from one floating log to the next. It nearly came to grief midstream, but a drifting log carried it the last stretch to the bank, where a helpful gust nudged it ashore in fourth place — a crossing remembered for nimbleness and a little well-earned luck.

The five elements

Over the sixty-year cycle the Rabbit takes on five elemental tones: a Wood Rabbit is described as warmer and more giving, a Fire Rabbit as more outgoing, an Earth Rabbit as steadier, a Metal Rabbit as more resolute, and a Water Rabbit as especially gentle and sensitive. They are cultural shadings of the same graceful sign, not forecasts.

Recent & upcoming years

Further reading

• Wikipedia: Rabbit (zodiac)
• Wikipedia: Chinese zodiac
• Britannica: Chinese zodiac (owner to confirm)