Monkey King and Moon Rabbit, 1880s

Tamausagi songoku. Songoku and jewel hare. Son Goku, a monkey sometimes known as the Monkey King, holding a spiked scepter and glaring at the Moon Rabbit. Sun Wukong, (Son Goku in Japanese) also known as the Monkey King, is a mythological figure who features in a body of legends, which can be traced back to the period of the Song dynasty. Sun Wukong is a skilled fighter, capable of defeating the best warriors of heaven. Each of his hairs possess magical properties, capable of being transformed into clones of the Monkey King himself, and/or into various weapons, animals, and other objects. He knows spells to command wind, part water, conjure protective circles against demons, and freeze humans, demons, and gods alike. The moon rabbit in folklore is a rabbit that lives on the Moon, based on pareidolia that identifies the markings of the Moon as a rabbit. The story exists in many cultures, prominently in Asian folklore and Aztec mythology.The symbolic meaning of the moon is closely tied to the act of rejuvenation. Taiso Yoshitoshi, circa 1885-90

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Astronomical Celestial Folkloric Folktale Goku Hare Heavenly Lore Lunar Moonlight Moonlit Mythic Mythical Rejuvenation Satellite Sphere Symbolical Symbolism Taiso Ukiyo-e Woodblock Yoshitoshi

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