Jade Hare Deityl, Qing dynasty (AD 1644-1911), Height 6 cm, Width 4.5 cm, Shanghai Museum © Shanghai Museum

Carved in the round, this white nephrite jade figure is bright and creamy, well worked as a hare with sharp mouth, round eyes and erect ears. Both incised and relief carving techniques are applied. The hare deity is wearing a Chinese robe with wide sleeves and sitting one leg up, while holding a folding fan and raising its left fist. Judging from the kind of figures in Qing dynasty, it might be originally holding some sweet osmanthus leaves according to the Chinese legend of Wu Gang the Woodcutter on the moon.

This figure is one of the twelve seated anthropomorphic jade sculptures collected by Shanghai Museum. Corresponding to the zodiac animals, the twelve deities guard the respective terrestrial branch and the hare deity watches over 5-7 o’clock in the early morning.