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Recently, I received a variety of New Year's cards from home and abroad featuring the zodiac symbol of the rabbit, appropriate as 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit according to the lunar calendar and Chinese astrology.
Among the 12 zodiac creatures, I have long been fascinated with the rabbit due to its legendary traits of intuition, spontaneity, wittiness, longevity, fertility, wisdom, tameness and creativity. The swift rabbit moves steadily toward its goals in order to protect itself from any negative environment or danger it may encounter. Thanks to its intelligent nature, the rabbit manages to successfully conquer dangerous and unfavorable situations. It is well able to adapt to different environments, just as ancestors of early humans did. There is an idiom that "a crafty rabbit always prepares three burrows." This implies that the rabbit keeps countless clever and hidden ideas in order to overcome challenges.
In a sense, it has been worshipped, cherished and portrayed in numerous myths, folk tales, children's books and pieces of art, including paintings.
For me, it is hard to think of rabbits without thinking of the song "Santokki," which is one of the most famous Korean children's songs. The word "santokki" literally translates to "mountain rabbit" and refers to a wild rabbit.
We have fond memories of the "Santokki" song we learned when we were kids: "Mountain rabbit, cute rabbit, where are you going? Hopping, hopping and running, where are you going? Uphill through the mountain ridge, I will climb up and pass there by myself. Golden-brown ripened chestnuts, I will gather up them and will bring them home."
The song "Santokki" was written and composed by Lee Il-rae (1903-79) in 1928 when he served as a music teacher at an elementary school in Changyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. Inspired by a wild rabbit on the mountain behind the school and drawing on his own child-like innocence, he composed the song.
Seven years before composing the song, he participated in the dedication ceremony of the Cheondo-gyo (the most influential native religion of Korea) Cathedral in Seoul in 1921. Being aware that Cheondo-gyo was the cradle of egalitarianism, the children's welfare movement and Korea's independence movement against the Japanese colonial regime, Lee Il-rae became interested in children's literature and music.
The song became the most popular Korean song symbolizing resistance against Japanese colonialism (1910-45). In particular, Kong Deok-ki, wife of Yun Po-sun (the second president of Korea in 1960-62), was imprisoned while serving as a kindergarten teacher because she sang the song at a music performance, changing the lyrics to: "Where are you going, leaving your family behind? Where are you going, leaving mugunghwa behind?"
Lee was also investigated by Japanese police as mugunghwa, the changed lyric, depicted anti-Japanese sentiments. However, Lee wittily replied, "Mugunghwa was the name of a hostess at a drinking bar." As a result, Lee was cleared of suspicion and Kong Deok-ki was released, despite the fact that the mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon) is symbolic as Korea's National flower.
Of significant note, images of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, including the rabbit, were carved in sacred places such as pagodas, temple stupas and royal tombs during the ancient Silla Kingdom in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. I have especially admired the artistic value of the sophisticated rabbit images among the 12 zodiac animal sculptures engraved on the stone slabs surrounding the royal tombs.
For those who wish for the best of luck throughout 2023, I encourage you to keep a picture or painting of a rabbit. Instead of a talisman, believed to dispel evil spirits, think of it as a bit of help to do the trick of bringing wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.
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