The Jade Rabbit Demon is the medicine-pounding rabbit of the Moon Palace in Journey to the West. After escaping through the celestial gates, she carries off the true princess of India, abandons her near a monastery, and takes her appearance. As the false princess, she stages a public selection of a husband and chooses Tang Seng.
Her purpose is to marry the pilgrim and damage his preserved vital essence. Sun Wukong recognizes that the royal bride is not human and forces a confrontation. The demon fights him with the pestle used for pounding medicine in the Moon Palace, then flees when her disguise fails.
The Lord of the Moon arrives with the moon maidens, stops Wukong from killing her, and explains both the rabbit’s origin and her grudge against the princess, who had once been a moon maiden. The rabbit resumes her white animal form and is taken back to the Moon Palace, while the true princess is restored to her family. Her impersonation, marriage scheme, lunar weapon, and recovery by her celestial mistress form a complete self-contained episode.