also: かつらお
noun
man in the moon
Archaic term for the mythical figure said to live on the moon, often associated with a laurel tree (桂). Not used in modern everyday language.
昔話では、桂男は月で桂の木を切っていると言われる。
In old tales, the man in the moon is said to be cutting a laurel tree on the moon.
Refers to the rabbit in the moon, a different lunar myth common in Japanese folklore, whereas 桂男 is the man in the moon from Chinese legend.
From Chinese legend; 桂 (laurel) + 男 (man). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term reflects the myth of a man living on the moon and cutting a laurel tree.