Eight trees also were said to flourish in the moon. One, the cassia tree Wu Kang, the Man in the Moon was condemned to hew down. The trunk of the tree closed after each blow of the axe. The leaves of the cassia conferred immortality upon those who ate of them.
The association of Moon and Hare is a very old one, and has been attributed to the mysterious effect of the moon upon the hare. On clear moonlight nights the hare were wont to gather together in bands and indulge in weird play, silent and bizarre as if under the influence of some subtle and transforming elixir of life.
The Cock within a circle is a Chinese symbol of the Sun, and the Bird of Dawn is often depicted clapping wings of gold as the sun rises behind him. It is the bird of Yang and as the spirits of darkness belong to the Yin principle, the cock was used at funerals to dissipate the power of evil spirits.,It was believed, too, that the spirits of darkness were put to flight each morning by the crowing of the cock. It is a prominent symbol of the Shinto religion and is shown standing on the temple drum which summons the faithful to prayers.
