生肖兔：因神話“走紅”的吉祥使者
2023年1月22日，中國“農曆新年”迎來生肖兔年。
On the 22nd of January, 2023, the Chinese Lunar calendar will welcome the year of the rabbit.
生肖文化是中國傳統文化的重要組成部分，也是春節吉祥物和傳統年俗文化的象徵，兔子可愛活潑，寓意吉祥，是活力和幸福的象徵。古書《瑞應圖》中記載：“赤兔大瑞，白兔中瑞。”
Zodiacs are a key constituent of traditional Chinese culture, for they are mascots of the Spring Festival and symbolic of Chinese New Year culture. The rabbit, which is cute and lively, denotes auspiciousness and vitality. The Song Dynasty creation “illustrations of Auspicious Omens” (Ruiyingtu) depicts that“red rabbits symbolize major auspiciousness, and white rabbits general auspiciousness”.
在中國，如果説龍、鳳是皇家專屬象徵，那麼兔子可以説是民間吉祥物的代表了。文房書畫、建築裝飾、服飾圖案、貼身佩飾、孩童玩具、日常食具……還有萌萌的印章，兔子形象無處不在。
If the dragon and phoenix have traditionally represented the nobility in China, rabbits are a mascot for luck and fortune among the everyday people. Rabbit imageries are almost ubiquitous, appearing on calligraphic paintings, architectural patterns, fashion and attire, children's toys, daily utensils and even cute rabbit seals…
這面古代銅鏡上嫦娥身姿飄逸，手托“大吉”二字與白兔相伴于月亮之上，民間傳説“嫦娥奔月”將嫦娥、玉兔和月亮三者緊密聯繫在了一起。
This mirror depicts a pattern of an ethereal Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, holding the two characters 大吉(daji, meaning “big luck”) and accompanying a rabbit on top of the moon. The folk legend “Chang'e flying to the moon” has closely bound Chang'e, the jade rabbit and the moon together.
人們按照傳説，進一步把玉兔藝術化、人格化，乃至神化之後成為了“兔兒爺”。“兔兒爺”被認為是祭拜月神時祈求治病去災而創作的一種遊戲玩偶，這種以武將為造型的“兔兒爺”很受孩子的喜愛。
The Chinese people have built on such legends, integrating rabbit images into artworks, personifying rabbits and even deifying them. The Lord Rabbit (Tu'er Ye) is a popular deity who was believed to first appear as a toy when people offered sacrifices to the moon god in hope of curing disease and removing disasters. The Lord Rabbit was depicted as a martial figure which became very popular with children.
古時候，兔子被認為有六大優點：敏、勤、勇、智、仁、和。時至今日，寵物兔子因其可愛的外表和安靜的性格，成為了孩子們成長的玩伴。國外的影視動畫、玩偶也逐漸走進中國家庭。古老的伊索寓言故事“龜兔賽跑”讓孩子們懂得了虛心使人進步，驕傲使人落後的哲理。
In ancient times, rabbits were believed to embody six virtues: agility, diligence, courage, wisdom, benevolence and harmony. Even today, pet rabbits are a household favorite due to their cute appearance and quiet personality. In addition, foreign films, animations and toys have been increasingly embraced by Chinese families. The cautionary Aesop tale, The Hare and the Tortoise, have taught children everywhere that humility drives progress while arrogance brings defeat.
“5、4、3、2、1，點火！”
“Five, four, three, two, one – blast off!”
“嫦娥探測器”攜帶著“玉兔號月球車”從火箭發射場拔地而起，這也是以神話故事為背景命名的中國月球探測工程——嫦娥工程。今天，中國已成為首個將探測器在月球背面軟著陸的國家，航太人的不懈奮鬥讓神話得以“續寫”。
The Chang'e lunar probe carrying the Jade Rabbit rover into space is also a testament to the adoption of legendary Chinese folklore in the nation's lunar exploration mission, known as the “Chang'e program”. To date, China is the only country to have executed a non-impact touch down of a lunar probe on the moon's unchartered side that is not visible from Earth. The undying determination of our aerospace heroes have written a sequel to the Chang'e legend.
從生肖神話到現實中的陪伴，兔子始終是“吉祥使者”。無論你現在年齡有多大，誰的心中沒有一隻兔子呢！
Rabbits are indeed ambassadors for auspiciousness, appearing in both legends and everyday life. There is a bunny in all of us, no matter our age.
春節到！中國人往往將生肖與成語結合，取諧音後的“成語”作為相互祝福的詞語，比如大展宏圖（兔）、前途（兔）似錦、揚眉吐（兔）氣……你學會了嗎？
With Chinese New Year around the corner, the Chinese people, as always, like to turn year's zodiac character into a pun by incorporating it into idioms. In the year of the rabbit (tu in Chinese), some auspicious idioms include “dazhanhongtu” (riding on the crest of success), “qiantusijin” (wishing one an auspicious future), “yangmeituqi” (holding one's head up high)… Have a try yourself?
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