Dark Side of the Moon
Dark Side of the Moon
Dark Side of the Moon
Dark Side of the Moon
Uncovering
the mysteries of our moon
PAST
Throughout history every culture has had a different theory about the Moon and what it means...
MOON RABBIT
MOON RABBIT
Different versions of this folklore are popular throughout Asia. It is found in many cultures including China, Japan, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Legends of moon rabbits also exist through the indigenous people of the Americas.
A monkey, an otter, a jackal and a rabbit resolved to practice charity on the day of the full moon. They did this as they believed it was a demonstration of great virtue and would earn them a great reward. So when an old man begged for food, the monkey gathered fruits, the otter collected fish and the jackal wrongfully pilfered a lizard and a pot of milk-curd. The rabbit only knew how gather grass, so it offered its own body by throwing itself into the fire the man had built. However the rabbit was surprisingly not burnt, the man then revealed he was Sakra and was touched by the rabbits virtue. He then drew the likeness of the rabbit on the moon for all to see. It is said the lunar image is still draped in the smoke that rose when the rabbit cast itself into the fire.
ANNIGAN
ANNIGAN
The people of Alaska and Greenland also have a myth relating to the moon. They believe that Anningan (the moon god) raped his sister (the sun goddess). They believe he till this day tries to chase her and this is why he follows her everyday.
RONA
RONA
The Moari tribe from New Zealand believe that Rona, a young woman who displeased the moon, was seized by the moon. In the myth she manages to hold onto a tree and drags that with her to the moon. The tree is supposed to represent fertility.
WEREWOLVES
WEREWOLVES
Through novels and movies we are all familiar with the famous myth of werewolves. The werewolf is affiliated with the full moon, it is typically believed that on the day of the full moon these creatures turn into their most violent version of themselves.
SELENE/LUNA
SELENE/LUNA
Selene and Luna are the names of the Moon Goddesses in Greek and Roman mythology. The goddess is paired with the god of the sun. The god of sun travels throughout the day, while the goddess travels through the night.
CHANG'E
CHANG'E
This is a Chinese myth about a woman said to live on the moon. There are many versions of this myth. The basic outline of this myth is that the woman and her husband were once immortal, who were converted into mortals due to their bad behaviour. They then took a pill trying to achieve immortality again, but Chang’e got really greedy and took too much of the pill and ended up floating to the moon, where she still remains to this date. She is one of the reasons for the celebration of the Chinese Moon Festival.