The Rabbit and Old Chinese Sayings 成语中的兔子

This year is the Chinese year of the rabbit and there are a number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to the rabbit, for example: ‘Foxes grieve over the death of rabbits’, ‘A rabbit’s tail cannot be long’, ‘When cunning hares have all been hunted, fleeing hounds will be cooked as food’, ‘A sly rabbit has three openings to its den’, ‘Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it’ and etc.

守株待兔

The saying ‘a rabbit’s tail cannot be long’ refers to who resort to treachery cannot get away for it very long and ‘Foxes grieve over the death of rabbits’ reflect a person’s sad feeling for the death or misfortunes of his companions.

The proverb ‘When cunning hares have all been hunted, fleeing hounds will be cooked as food’ was once cited by the wise man Fan Li, an advisor in the state of Yue in the Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 BC). It is used to mean trusted aides are eliminated when they have outlived their usefulness. Fan Li was trying to advice his friend to leave the King who, in his opinion, was a man with whom one can weather difficult times together but not happiness, with whom one can weather danger together but not live peace together. It is therefore important to leave him before he harms you. Click here to read more about Fan Li’s advice.

The proverb ‘A sly rabbit has three openings to its den’ indicates having more hiding places or methods. It is used to suggest the need for backup plans or escape routes in dealing with uncertainties. It comes from a story in ‘Stratagems of the Warring States’ about Feng Xuan who had said: ‘Only with three burrows can a wily hare avoid the risk of death.’ Click here to read the story.

The proverb ‘Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it’ comes from ‘The Five Vermin’ in ‘The Works of Han Feizi’. It advises that one should not wait for unexpected gains by leaving things to chance and luck, or one should not hope to get rewards without hard work.

Once in the Song Land there was a farmer, in whose field there was a tree. One day a rabbit ran toward the tree, too fast as to hit into the tree, broke its neck and died. From then on, he laid down his tools, doing nothing but wait under the lucky tree, hoping for another rabbit. But no more rabbit came, and the farmer turned out to be the laughing stock of his fellow countrymen.

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今年是华人的兔年，有不少华人的成语和俗语是与兔子有关的，例如：‘兔死狐悲’，‘兔子尾巴长不了’，‘兔死狗烹’，‘狡兔三窟’，‘守株待兔’，等等。

俗语‘兔子尾巴长不了’指的是背信弃义的事是维持不了多久的，而‘兔死狐悲’反映因同类的死亡或悲事而感到悲伤。

成语‘兔死狗烹’曾被春秋时期（公元前722年至481年）越国大臣范蠡引用过，比喻事情成功以后，把出过力的人杀掉。范蠡尝试劝告他的朋友离开越王，认为越王‘可与共患难，而不可共处乐；可与履危，不可与安。’所以应该在不被他杀害之前离开。请点击这里阅读有关故事。

成语‘狡兔三窟’指兔子有多个隐藏处或指多个方法。它用来指明需要后备计划或者脱险通道来应付变化无常的局势。来自《战国策》冯谖的故事：‘狡兔有三窟，仅得免其死耳。’请点击这里阅读这个故事。

成语‘守株待兔’来自《韩非子•五蠹》，劝告我们不要听天由命，以来运气，或期望不劳而获。

宋人有耕田者。田中有株，兔走，触株折颈而死。因释其耒而守株，冀复得兔。兔不可得，而身为宋国笑。

The Rabbit in Mythology 兔子的神话

Rabbits have stood out in the human imagination for centuries. All across the world, wherever rabbits are found, they have become the subject of myth, folklore, and creative speculation. It's no surprise that these playful, intelligent and mysterious creatures have attracted the attention of mystics and storytellers throughout the world.

In Chinese mythology, the Rabbit is a symbol of endurance and their essence is said to have originated from the Moon. The Moon is usually at its best in the Chinese mid-autumn night. , This is the time Chinese children carry paper lanterns made in the form of a Rabbit, and climb the hills to look at the Moon and admire the Moon Hare.

The legend of the Jade Rabbit is considered to be an extension of Chang'e Flying to the Moon. It tells about three sages who transformed themselves into pitiful old men. One day they met a fox, a monkey and a rabbit, and they begged for food. The fox and the monkey shared their food with the old men; but the rabbit, with nothing to share, jumped into a blazing fire to offer his own flesh instead. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's kindness that they sent it to live in the Moon Palace, where it became the Jade Rabbit.

Chang'e, who lived alone after arriving in the moon, liked the Jade Rabbit at the first sight, and therefore kept it company. As the time went by, Chang'e and Jade Rabbit became inseparable friends.

Hearing about the story of Chang'e and Hou Yi, the Jade Rabbit felt sympathetic to them and decided to make a special heavenly medicine, which could help Chang'e return to Earth. Unfortunately, the Jade Rabbit has still not been able to make it even though he has worked hard for thousands of years. Observing the moon on the Mid-Autumn Day carefully, we can still see the Jade Rabbit making his heavenly medicine.

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自古以来，兔子一直保留在人们的想象之中。世界各地，只要是有兔子的地方，它们都会成为神话、民间故事与创意推断的主题。这些顽皮、机灵与神秘的动物会吸引神秘主义者与讲故事人的注意力，那是不令人感到惊奇的。

在中国神话中，兔子是耐力的象征，它们的精髓来自月亮。中秋晚上的月最圆最亮。孩子会在这时候提着兔形灯笼登山看月，欣赏月里的兔子。

玉兔的故事可以说是嫦娥奔月神话的延续。它说的是三个神仙把自己变成可怜的老人。有一天，他们碰到狐狸、猴子与兔子，就向他们讨食。狐狸与猴子同老人分享它们的食物。可是兔子没有食物可以分享，就跳进烈火中，奉献它们的肉。老人为兔子的善心所感动，就把它带到月宫居住，变成玉兔。

嫦娥来到月球以后，孤独生活，一看到玉兔就很欢喜，所以结伴而居。随着日子的过去，他们变成不可分离的朋友。

听到嫦娥与后羿的故事后，玉兔可怜起他们，决定制造特别仙药来帮助嫦娥回返地球。可是，虽然经过几千年的苦干，玉兔一直没法把要制成。在中秋月仔细观察月亮，我们就可以发现玉兔还在制造它的仙药。