Across China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, children are told that pointing at the Moon will get your ear cut — usually while you sleep, usually by the Moon itself.

It is one of the most geographically widespread specific moon taboos anywhere, and the remedy is generally to bow and apologise. Explanations offered are all after the fact; what it demonstrates is that the Moon is treated as a presence with dignity rather than as scenery, which is a distinction most of these traditions maintain.