Year of Rabbit: prosperity, longevity and wisdom

"Ssangtodo," a portrayal of a pair of rabbits that symbolize conjugal love and a harmonious family / Courtesy of National Folk Museum of Korea

By Dong Sun-hwa

2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. Given that the rabbit has been emblematic of prosperity, longevity and wisdom in Korea, 2023 is expected to be a time of fertility as well.

The rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac, representing east on the compass and 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on the clock. The fact that the animal symbolizes February in the lunar calendar ― the month signaling the beginning of farming in an agricultural society ― and that it gives birth to offspring four to six times a year, explain why the rabbit is a beacon of fruitfulness.

The rabbit also represents the moon and longevity, as evidenced by a Korean folk tale about the moon rabbit. Koreans have long believed that some white rabbits live on the moon that make an elixir of immortality using mortars and pestles, and many paintings and songs, such as Yoon Guk-young's "Half Moon" (1924), center on these mystical creatures.

Along with the tiger, the rabbit frequently appears in Korean literary works ranging from folk tales to "pansori," a traditional genre of musical storytelling. Although the rabbit is portrayed sometimes as a victim of its own tricks backfiring, the long-eared animal is often viewed in a more positive light as a creature of wisdom, wit and agility.

One of the most prominent creations featuring the rabbit is "Sugungga," which is one of the five surviving traditional narrative pansori forms from the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. In this satirical tale, the rabbit appears as a clever animal symbolizing the powerless people, which manages to outwit a corrupt ruler.

"Sugungga" revolves around a wild rabbit that is lured by a turtle to the palace of the Dragon King of the Southern Sea, who needs a rabbit's liver to save his life. The rabbit comes close to death after arriving there, but narrowly escapes by lying that it has to return to land to retrieve its liver, which it had taken out to dry under the sun. The Dragon King trusts the rabbit and lets it go, ending up losing his opportunity to cure his illness.

According to Oh A-ran, a curator at the National Folk Museum of Korea, the rabbit's symbolic meanings and images have changed over time.

"Many records from the Joseon era including 'Sugungga' describe the rabbit as a smart animal," she said. "Our ancestors already knew that it is a creature of high intelligence that digs at least three burrows as its safe havens to increase its chances of survival."

However, as time went by, people began associating the rabbit with adorable and innocent children, Oh added.

Korea's oldest comic book, "A Rabbit and a Monkey" / Courtesy of Korea Manhwa Contents Agency

"So the rabbit was frequently featured in children's storybooks or songs in the early 1900s," she pointed out. "In another case, in Korea's oldest comic book, 'A Rabbit and a Monkey' (1946), the rabbit symbolized Joseon, which was under the colonial rule of Japan. It seems to reflect our ancestors' hope that our country would overcome its hardships in a wise way just like the rabbit."

There are many celebrities who were born in the Year of the Rabbit, such as singer-actor Park Ji-hoon, Mark of K-pop boy group NCT, Yeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT), Chaeyoung of girl group TWICE and actress Kim Yoo-jung.

The National Folk Museum of Korea is currently holding a special exhibition, titled "Here Comes a Rabbit." Courtesy of National Folk Museum of Korea

In celebration of the Year of the Rabbit, the National Folk Museum of Korea has been holding a special exhibition titled, "Here Comes a Rabbit," since Dec. 14. The exhibition, which is scheduled to run through March 6, will showcase some 70 rabbit-related works and records to shed light on the animal's physical characteristics, behaviors and symbolic meanings. It is divided into two parts: "The Rabbit's Colorful Biology" and "The Rabbit's Colorful Transformation." It also has a special section titled "Moon Rabbit" that delves deeper into the story of the mystical moon rabbit.

The "Moon Rabbit" section of the "Here Comes a Rabbit" exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea / Courtesy of National Folk Museum of Korea

"This special exhibition interprets the rabbit's folkloric symbolism in connection with its biological characteristics in an attempt to canvass how the people of yore understood the animal and how that understanding affects our lives today," Kim Jong-dae, the director of the National Museum of Korea, said in an introduction to the ongoing exhibition.

Curator Oh picked "Chueungtobakdo" ― a type of painting that Joseon kings presented to their subjects to celebrate the New Year ― as one of the gems of the exhibition.

"Chueungtobakdo" depicts a hawk watching a rabbit it wants to catch. Courtesy of National Folk Museum of Korea

"'Chueungtobakdo' depicts a hawk watching a rabbit it wants to catch," Oh said. "Upon close inspection, people might be able to realize that the rabbit is striving to run away from its predator. Since the rabbit is known for its nimbleness and wisdom, it is highly likely that it has managed to escape."

She also highlighted other major works at the exhibit, including "A Wooden Doll of a Rabbit and Turtle" that shows a scene from "Sugungga," and "Ssangtodo," a portrayal of a pair of affectionate rabbits that symbolize conjugal love and a harmonious family.