Bronze mirror art from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) shows the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. [Photo/people.com.cn]

The Moon Rabbit pounding herbs in vain

The Jade Rabbit, also known as the Moon Rabbit, is often portrayed as a companion of Chang'e in the Moon Palace (or the Guanghan Palace), constantly pounding herbs and trying to make a pill to send her back to earth to be reunited with her husband. But it never succeeds.

Famous Chinese poet Li Bai once wrote in his poem series The Old Dust: “The rabbit in the moon pounds the medicine in vain.”