2. Both rei miro examples have what presumably is meant to indicate a moon crescent incised in their centers. Moon has two crescents - waxing and waning - oppositely oriented (as the figureheads in the first example). Anciently moon was connected with fishes, sometimes even regarded as a kind of fish. During the days we see the golden sun 'fly' above like a glorious bird, during nights we can see moon swim above like a silvery fish: ... Now birds and fishes are born under the sign of the Yin, but they belong to the Yang. This is why birds and fishes both lay eggs. Fishes swim in the waters, birds fly among the clouds. But in winter, the swallows and starlings go down into the sea and change into mussels ... (Ta Tai Li Chi according to Needham II)
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