The Stories of Rabbits and Hares兔子的故事

笪景行

Year of the rabbit

In the Chinese Zodiac1 there is a twelve year cycle. Each year is representedby an animal. The rabbit has a year of its own. People born in the year of therabbit are said to have certain characteristics. Typically people born in the year ofthe rabbit are kind and smart.

兔年

中国的十二生肖以十二年为一个周期，每年用一只动物代表，其中有一年是兔年。据说兔年出生的人有某些特点。一般兔年出生的人善良而聪明。

Rabbit on the moon

In Chinese tradition there is a Moon Goddess named Change. She lives onthe moon with her rabbit. In Japanese folklore2 there are rabbits living on themoon which keep busy making a sticky rice snack named mochi. Similar storiesare being told in some other Asian countries.

月亮上的兔子

在中国传统中，有一位月亮女神叫嫦娥。她和她的兔子住在月亮上。在日本民间传说中，月亮上有兔子，它们忙着做一种名为“麻薯”的糯米小吃。在其他一些亚洲国家也有类似的故事。

Rabbits and hares

Often when tales are told， some speak of the rabbit and others the hare，mixing the two animals in the same story. In folklore and superstition3 there isvery little distinction4 between the hare and the rabbit. These two animalsoften blend5 together and appear in the same legends and have the same symbolism6.

兔子和野兔

在講故事时，经常有人说兔子，有人说野兔，在同一个故事中把这两种动物混在一起。在民间传说和迷信中，野兔和兔子几乎没有区别。这两种动物经常融合在一起，出现在相同的传说中，具有相同的象征意义。

Why are rabbits lucky？

Rabbits have been a symbol of fertility7 and prosperity8 for ages. Therabbit is also considered a lucky talisman9 to increase wealth.

In some parts of Northern Europe it was customary to give a child a whiterabbit as a gift. The gift of the white rabbit was to ensure the child had a rich life.

为什么兔子是幸运的钥

多年来，兔子一直是生育和繁荣的象征。兔子也被认为是增加财富的幸运护身符。

在北欧的一些地区，过去人们习惯送给孩子一只白兔作为礼物。白兔这个礼物是为了确保孩子过上富足的生活。

Rabbit， rabit， rabit

An old English superstition states that if you say “rabbit”three times in a rowon the first day of the month，you will have good luck that month. You must also saythe words out loud. This is the most common belief.

Some believe that if the first words you say out loud on the first day of themonth are“rabbit， rabbit， rabbit”，you will receive an unexpected gift that month.

Yet another version says you need to say “hare”before you fall asleep on thelast day of the month and the first words on the first day of the month need to be“rabbit， rabbit， rabbit”. This will bring a month of good luck.

兔子袁兔子袁兔子

一个古老的英国迷信说，如果你在一个月的第一天连续说三次“兔子”，那么这个月就会有好运。你还必须大声地说。这是最普遍的观点。

有些人则认为，如果你在一个月的第一天大声说出的第一句话是“兔子，兔子，兔子”，那么你会在这个月收到一份意想不到的礼物。

而另一种说法是，在一个月的最后一天入睡之前，你需要说“野兔”，而在一个月中的第一天最先说出的词必须是“兔子，兔子，兔子”。这会带来一个月的好运。

Rabbit爷s foot for luck

In North America a rabbits foot was for a long time considered a good luckcharm10. The strong believers of this superstition said it had to be the left foot of therabbit. For a left rabbits foot to bring luck it had to be carried in the left pocket.

In the world of theaters，the rabbits foot was （and still is by many） consideredvery auspicious11. Many actors and actresses would keep a rabbits foot in theirmake-up kit. Before entering the stage they would kiss the rabbits foot， or rub it ontheir hands or on their face. The rabbits foot would help them eliminate12 stagefright. It would also help them remember all their lines.

There is also an old superstition that the rabbits foot can cure rheumatism13if you keep it in your pocket at all times.

幸运兔脚

在北美，兔脚很长时间以来被认为是好运符。这种迷信的坚定信徒说，一定得是兔子的左脚。为了让兔子的左脚带来好运，必须把它放在左边口袋里。

在戏剧界，人们过去认为（现在许多人仍旧认为）兔脚是非常吉利的。许多男女演员都会在化妆箱里留一只兔脚。在走上舞台之前，他们会亲吻兔脚，或者在手上或脸上摩擦它。兔脚可以帮助他们消除怯场，也有助于他们记住所有台词。

还有一个古老的迷信是，如果你一直把兔脚放在口袋里，它就能治风湿。

Three hares symbol

The symbol of three hares in a circle joined together at the ears is found inmany religions14 all over world—three hares sharing three ears， yet every one ofthem has two.

This design has been uncovered in Buddhist15 caves that are about 1，500 yearsold in China. It shows a natural beauty. It is also found in some Christian churchesthroughout Europe， in Islamic art and in Judaism. All cultures have interpreted thisancient symbol according to what is appropriate16 with their belief.

三兔符號

世界各地的许多宗教都有三只兔子在耳朵处连成一圈的符号——三只兔子共用三只耳朵，但每只兔子都有两只耳朵。

人们已在中国约1500 年前的佛教洞窟中发现了这一设计。它展现了一种自然美。在欧洲的一些基督教教堂、伊斯兰教艺术品和犹太教中也都可以找到它。所有文化都根据各自相应的信仰来解释这个古老的符号。