Which creature on the moon pounds the elixir of life in Chinese myth?

The creature on the Moon that pounds the elixir of life in Chinese myth is the Jade Rabbit, or Yutu. It is traditionally shown working with a mortar and pestle beside Chang’e, the Moon goddess.

The legend grew from the dark markings on the Moon, which observers interpreted as the shape of a rabbit or hare. An early Chinese source, the Chu Ci, describes a hare on the Moon pounding herbs for immortals. In older Chinese usage, the animal was more precisely a hare because rabbits had not yet been introduced to China.

Chinese versions generally say that Yutu prepares the elixir of immortality, though some traditions have the creature making medicines for mortals or pounding ingredients for mooncakes. This differs from Japanese and Korean stories, where the lunar animal usually prepares rice cakes such as mochi or tteok.

The Jade Rabbit remains culturally important through the Mid-Autumn Festival and China’s lunar exploration program. China’s Yutu rover landed on the Moon in 2013, and Yutu-2 reached the far side in 2019.