Caves Hold Clue To The Riddle Of The Three Hares

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-3-2004

[MonroeDNA]

Baptists are going to be pissed.

[gitmo]

[aruanan]

Dang, what mystery?

Sue Andrew, an art historian who is part of the group going to China, said: "We don't know how for sure the symbol travelled to the West but the most likely explanation is they were on the valuable oriental silks brought to Western medieval churches to wrap holy relics, as altar cloths and in vestments."

The design was something the Buddhists came up with ages ago. The conquering hordes of Islam pushed through Buddhist Afghanistan and well into India, picking up the design along the way (their prohibition against graven images notwithstanding). After that it made its way into Europe through both land and sea trade routes.

[blam]

"Dang, what mystery?"

My thoughts were that these folks brought the symbol with them when they went to Halstadt, Austria to visit their kin.

China Mummies

[FairOpinion]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs -- " -- Archeology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc. PING list.

PING

PLEASE FREEPMAIL me to get on or off this list.

"A research team led by a British archaeologist is to travel to China in search of the origins and meaning of a mysterious ancient symbol identified in sacred sites across Britain, Europe, and the Middle and Far East.

Striking depictions of three hares joined at the ears have been found in roof bosses of medieval parish churches in Devon, 13th century Mongol metal work from Iran and cave temples from the Chinese Sui dynasty of 589-618.

Academics are intrigued at the motif's apparent prominence in Christian, Islamic and Buddhist holy contexts separated by 5,000 miles and almost 1,000 years."

[aruanan]

Hey, let's all do the Mummy Gape!

[FairOpinion]

That article about the body of the ancient caucasian man found was very interesting. I haven't read that before.

[wildbill]

Er...I'd always heard the Jade Gate referred to a part of a woman's anatomy--but perhaps you know more than the wisest of men since the location you sited is "dunhung. :-)

[steveo]

almost looks like a pie.

[blam]

"That article about the body of the ancient caucasian man found was very interesting. I haven't read that before."

Ah, they're being found all over that whole region. I've said it before, "I'll be the least suprised if the first emperor of China turns out to be a tall red-headed guy".

Also, see the link in post #24.

[tet68]

Ah, the old jade gate/ turtle head reference eh?
I kind of like the grotto of aphrodite/rampant steaming engine of manhood victorian phrase myself.

Wonder if this is some precursor to the "Got a wild hare
up yo butt?" reference. If so no wonder it has such a conotation. Hares are a lot bigger than gerbils eh?

[Katya]

"The three hares are depicted in churches, chapels and cathedrals in France and Germany."

Well at least in Europe, since we find it used in architectural elements it seems representative of the Golden Triangle or Temple of Solomon mystery. On a less esoteric level albeit universal, three symbols interwoven usually speak to the three-fold nature of man.

[Aquamarine]

When I look at the depiction I see three rabbit fetuses in the womb. Maybe it's a sign of fertility.

[dixie sass]

Here is a link to some photographs of the Three Hares.

http://www.chrischapmanphotography.com/

[Our man in washington]

RightWhale wrote:

"I suspect a pun. Possibly a Sanskrit pun."

No time for jokes. This is serious science. In fact, the mathematician in the group was going to slice out sections of the pictures to analyze for fractal patterns. But then the team decided that would be just splitting hares.

[VOA]

It is a never ending source of amazement to me how ignorant people are about religious art,
especially Christians about Christian art but I gotta tell ya.

It's partly explained by the tension between various branches of Christianity:
some hold religious paintngs such as icons as sacred (e.g., Russian Orthodox) while other
branches are 180 degrees the other direction (e.g., some Protestant branches). >br> >br>This is covered lightly in the documentary about the depictions of Christ through
the centuries "The Face" that appears sometimes on PBS, often during Easter.

Mel Gibson was one of the narrators; I think I've seen copies for sale on amazon.com.

[PoorMuttly]

I think they called it "KILROY WAS HERE" during WWII.

[PoorMuttly]

Oops...gots ta' read the thread before posting more often.

How come it works for Laz ?!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT