This got me to wondering about the significance of the white rabbit, if there was one. I am not entirely sure that the white-rabbit and the moon rabbit are one and the same but you would have to assume that it is quite likely. The moon rabbit, or jade rabbit is a feature of many East Asian (and Meso-American) cultures. Rather than seeing the image of a man in the moon they see a Rabbit. It can be seen pounding away at a giant pestle and mortar, perhaps making the elixir of life, or making even making Moshi.
How did the Rabbit get his image on the moon?
"In the Buddhist Śaśajâtaka (Jataka Tale 316),[3] a monkey, an otter, a jackal, and a rabbit resolved to practice charity on the day of the full moon (Uposatha), believing a demonstration of great virtue would earn a great reward.
When an old man begged for food, the monkey gathered fruits from the trees and the otter collected fish, while the jackal wrongfully pilfered a lizard and a pot of milk-curd. The rabbit, who knew only how to gather grass, instead offered its own body, throwing itself into a fire the man had built. The rabbit, however, was not burnt. The old man revealed himself to be Śakra and, touched by the rabbit's virtue, 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." (Wikipeadia)
