When looking at the moon from the Far East, people perceive a rabbit stirring a pot. There are myths in the Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cultures about the Moon Rabbit. In one version a rabbit sacrifices itself in the fire to provide food for a monk, who then immortalizes the rabbit by placing his image on the moon. The rabbit is said to be stirring a pot of the elixir of life, or perhaps just mochi. Other legends say that he is holding a broom and sweeping the moon clean.

A popular design in Japanese art and textiles is that of rabbits hopping on the waves of the ocean. I’ve never read an authoritative interpretation of this, but my theory is that it’s a visual pun of moonlight bouncing on the waves.

If you’d like to learn more, you can start with these websites:

About Moon Rabbit on reference.com