爱。开心便当のMoon and Jade Rabbit

This is the second bento which I made for Mooncake/Mid-Autumn Festival.  Today’s is about The Moon with the Jade Rabbit.  The following is the story about the Jade Rabbit…

The Hare or The Jade Rabbit 

According to tradition, the Jade Rabbit pounds medicine, together with the lady, Chang’e, for the gods. Others say that the Jade Rabbit is a shape, assumed by Chang’e herself. The dark areas to the top of the full moon may be construed as the figure of a rabbit. The animal’s ears point to the upper right, while at the left are two large circular areas, representing its head and body.

In this legend, three fairy sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men, and begged for food from a fox, a monkey, and a hare. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to the old men, but the hare, empty-handed, jumped into a blazing fire to offer his own flesh instead. The sages were so touched by the hare’s sacrifice and act of kindness that they let him live in the Moon Palace, where he became the “Jade Rabbit”.

I made a Nutella hazelnut spread sandwich for my son.  After that, I used a round cutter to cut out a round shape cheese and placed it on the top of the sandwich, as The Moon.  Then, cut out the Jade Rabbits from a piece of ham and using nori for the line and eyes.  The two Jade Rabbits are pounding medicine, so I boiled a fish cake and cut it into smaller size to used it as the medicine  bowl.  A small sausage stick for the stick.

To add extra nutrition to the bento, I included two pieces of Japanese cripy seaweed chicken, some lettuce and a fresh prune.

Hope my son will enjoy his “Moon” and the “Jade Rabbits” that I have made for him.

Wishing all of you have joyfull and happy Mid-Autumn Festival.  中秋节快乐！！！

Update: Linked this post to  What’s for Lunch Wednesday, Week 17 at Shannon’s blog.   Share your bento post or ideas in this page with other bento maker around the world.