Yù tù (Jade Rabbit) is a legendary creature from Chinese mythology that lives on the Moon, pounding herbs in a mortar to make the elixir of immortality. The character 玉 (yù) means 'jade' — symbolizing purity, beauty, and preciousness — while 兔 (tù) means 'rabbit' or 'hare'. Together, they form a poetic compound name emphasizing the rabbit’s divine, luminous nature rather than its literal material composition.

This term appears frequently in classical poetry, Mid-Autumn Festival traditions, modern space missions (e.g., China’s lunar rover was named Yutu), and children’s stories. It carries strong cultural resonance, evoking moonlight, longevity, gentleness, and quiet diligence. Unlike ordinary rabbits, the Jade Rabbit is never used to refer to real animals — it is exclusively mythological or symbolic, often paired with motifs like the Moon Palace (广寒宫), Chang’e the Moon Goddess, or osmanthus trees.