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Lord Rabbit, a mythical bunny sent down from the moon to bring good health to Beijing, is making a triumphant comeback as the Chinese capital gears up for the Lunar New Year。
在神话中,“兔儿爷”是从月亮到北京给人们消灾治病的玉兔。随着中国农历新年的临近,“兔儿爷”在北京又流行起来。
那么,“兔爷”是怎么来的呢?来看看下面的介绍吧。
According to legend, Lord Rabbit -- also known as Jade Rabbit -- was sent down by the goddess of the moon, Chang'e, to help Beijing survive a deadly plague more than 500 years ago。
根据神话传说,兔儿爷也称玉兔。500年前,月宫女神嫦娥派兔爷到人间,帮助北京人躲过了一场致命瘟疫。
因此,Lord Rabbit figurine(兔爷雕塑)就象征着消灾减病。拜“兔爷”和“兔奶奶”属于一种folk custom(民间习俗)。现如今,兔儿爷已成了稀罕物。如果您想在春节期间“请”兔爷,不妨去Dongyue Taoist Temple(东岳庙)看看。
Lord Rabbit(兔儿爷)是月兔的艺术化和人格化,流行于北京城,一般是中秋佳节必不可少的象征。可不要把兔儿爷和rabbit deity(兔儿神)混淆了,后者可是专司人间男男情爱(love and sex between homosexual men)的神。