Chinese artifacts with depictions of rabbits

Since 2023 is considered the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, ChinArmArt presents Chinese artifacts with rabbits’ images, some combined with other auspicious zoomorphic motifs.
A golden belt buckle, dating to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), is designed in the shape of a rabbit. Its tail extends backward to form a hook. Under the abdomen of the rabbit, there is a round knob. The buckle can be split in half and joined together by mortise and tenon. This adorable belt buckle is part of the permanent collection of the Nanjing Museum.
Two rabbits are vividly portrayed in low relief on the present wooden table screen. One rabbit stands on its hind legs while the other is prostrate on the ground. Bamboo, rocks, grass, and flowers surround them, creating a quiet ambiance. The unique carving craft and rare texture add to the screen’s elegance and exquisite style. It is a treasure in the permanent collection of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.
A wooden building component, dating back to the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties, is carved with a rabbit entwined by a snake in relief. According to traditional Feng Shui (Chinese geomancy), the image of a snake entwining a rabbit indicates a promising marriage. As a burial item unearthed from Baarin Left Banner, the wooden building component is part of the permanent collection of the Baarin Left Banner Khitan Museum in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.