Japanese Wooden Bookmark - Bunnies

Bamboo bookmark, decorated with cherry blossoms and rabbits. The rabbit

is the protagonist of many mythological legends and Japanese folklore.

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One of the most famous is that of the Lunar Rabbit. Legend has it that

the rabbit lives on the moon and it is possible to see its image in the 

depressions of the lunar surface only during full moon nights.

On these nights you can see the rabbit holding a kitchen pestle.

The story begins with a weary and hungry traveler, who at one point

of his journey comes to a forest where he meets a monkey, an otter,

a jackal and a rabbit. The first three animals help him get some

food. Only the rabbit, lacking any special skills other than retrieving some

of grass, cannot bring anything to the traveler. So he decides to offer himself

himself as a meal, to prepare fire and throw himself into the flames.

The wayfarer, who is actually the Hindu deity Sakna, is thus impressed

by the rabbit's gesture of generosity, that he decides to immortalize his

image on the lunar surface so that everyone can admire it. The rabbit

is thus the symbol of sacrifice and generosity.