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| Credit: The Devonshire Association(?) |
I never heard of the mysterious Three Hare symbol before, so here we go! It must be some kind of swastiska stuff...
Can you tell me about the Three Hares symbol?
The Three Hares is one of the most fascinating and mysterious symbols in world art. It consists of three hares running in a circle, with each hare sharing an ear with its neighbor. Although there are only three ears in total, each hare appears to have two—a clever visual illusion.
What makes the symbol especially intriguing is that it appears across a vast geographical area—from China to the Middle East and Europe—over more than a thousand years.
The design
At first glance, you see three hares chasing one another.
Looking more closely, you notice:
- there are only three ears,
- each ear belongs simultaneously to two hares,
- each hare nevertheless appears complete.
This ingenious construction has fascinated artists and mathematicians alike.
Where is it found?
The earliest known examples appear along the Silk Road.
China
Some of the oldest surviving examples are in the Mogao Caves, dating to around the 6th–7th centuries CE.
These Buddhist cave temples contain paintings of the Three Hares on their ceilings.
Central Asia
The motif spread westward along Silk Road trade routes.
Examples occur in:
- Iran,
- Afghanistan,
- Uzbekistan.
Islamic art
The design appears in medieval Islamic decorative art, where geometric and symbolic motifs were highly developed.
It seems to have been appreciated primarily as an elegant ornamental pattern.
Europe
The motif eventually reached Europe.
It is especially famous in:
- England (particularly Devon churches),
- Germany,
- France.
Many medieval churches have the Three Hares carved into wooden roof bosses.
What does it mean?
This is the mystery.
No medieval text explicitly explains the symbol.
Scholars therefore propose several possibilities.
1. Eternity
Because the hares form an unbroken circle, the symbol may represent:
- eternity,
- endless cycles,
- continuity,
- the wheel of time.
2. Interdependence
Each hare shares an ear.
Nothing is completely separate.
Modern interpreters often see this as expressing:
- interconnectedness,
- mutual dependence,
- unity within plurality.
This interpretation resonates well with Buddhist philosophy, although we cannot say with certainty that it was the original intention.
3. The Moon
Since hares are ancient lunar animals throughout Asia, the Three Hares may have had lunar symbolism.
Possible meanings include:
- lunar phases,
- recurring cycles,
- rebirth,
- immortality.
This fits comfortably with both Chinese and Indian traditions.
4. Buddhism
Because the oldest examples are found in Buddhist cave temples, many scholars think the symbol originally had Buddhist significance.
Possible associations include:
- cyclic existence (saṃsāra),
- harmony,
- compassion,
- perfection.
However, no Buddhist scripture specifically explains the motif.
5. Christianity
When the motif appears in churches, some have interpreted it as representing the Holy Trinity:
- three persons,
- one essence.
The geometry certainly lends itself to this reading.
However, there is little evidence that this was the original meaning. It is more likely that medieval Christians adopted an already existing motif and gave it a Christian interpretation.
Could it have many meanings?
Quite possibly.
Unlike symbols with a fixed doctrinal explanation, the Three Hares seems to have been remarkably adaptable.
As it traveled across cultures, different communities could understand it in ways that fit their own traditions:
- Buddhists: interdependence or cyclic existence.
- Muslims: elegant geometric harmony.
- Christians: the Trinity.
- Folk traditions: luck, fertility, or the cycle of the seasons.
Why hares?
Hares themselves already carried rich symbolism across Eurasia.
They were associated with:
- the Moon,
- fertility,
- spring,
- vigilance,
- transformation,
- generosity (through Indian and Buddhist stories),
- the Otherworld in Celtic tradition.
Using three hares naturally amplified these associations.
Relation to sacred geometry
The Three Hares also appeals because of its mathematical elegance.
It demonstrates how:
- three creatures,
- sharing only three ears,
can all appear anatomically complete.
The design beautifully balances:
- unity,
- multiplicity,
- symmetry,
- motion.
