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Curse of the Fuwas
Of all the seven sins, pride is the deadliest. At least in China, where jealous spirits roam the sky and lurk in corners with stagnant qi. So apologize to guests for your scanty ten-course banquet, lest the New Year find you without rice. Belittle your new bride’s appearance, lest a randy official hear of her comeliness and decide to make an er nai of her. And when she bears you a fat little son, dress him as a girl and call him by a female name until his voice changes, for his life is as dear to demons as it is to you.
Some may think the recent floods from Sichuan to Guangdong a random but cyclical catastrophe, a quirk of this third stone from a smallish star. Fools and their science. We are not mere ants, dying by the drove at the hands of a child with a garden hose. We are humans, the sentient jewel in the universal lotus, and our actions have cosmic significance. Especially here at the center of the world, in the Middle Kingdom. Just as the Tangshan earthquake in ’76 presaged the passing of our Glorious Leader to that socialist paradise in the sky, recent cataclysms have tested China’s collective pride, represented in her Olympic Fuwa.
The Fuwa’s cuteness nearly masked their potent symbolism – China’s sense of pride and honor in hosting the Games, may they come soon and be over and done with and leave us in peace already. But the proliferation of their images, on everything from freshly-tattooed biceps to sanitary products, tipped off those unwholesome spirits whose sole aim is to plague and punish. And their wrath was symbolic, to let us know how the universe really works.
Yingying, the antelope, China’s highest jumper and fastest runner, from whence do you hail? That’s right: Tibet, scene of so much unpleasantness this past March. So much good will gored, so many soured guests who should come here with only sports-watching on their agendas.
Huanhuan – living fire, Olympic flame, the passion for competition you represent turned ugly, for when the fates were done with Yingying they turned on you, along with all those misguided chowderheads who thought dousing you would prove something or settle a score, instead of burning bridges.
Jingjing, what could be more authentically Chinese than you, a panda, indigenous to Sichuan? Back to the darkest pit in hell with whichever loathsome demon rent the earth and wreaked so much destruction in your ancient bamboo hills.
Nini, graceful swallow, you are outfitted as a kite. Weifang, in Shandong province, is famed for the kites it produces, and suffered a nasty train wreck during the May Holiday week. Heaven forfend more destruction from the sky, but some morbid souls claim that the swallow is also a symbol of Beijing.
Beibei, gleaming sturgeon, some believe last winter’s fury and devastation of China’s breadbasket was retaliation for the prosperity you promise. Surely pride’s wages have been paid twice over now, with the epic flooding of the Yangtze that is your home.
Yet there is a greater lesson in all this tumult and misfortune than the dangers of forgetting humility. We can learn it from the Beichuan farmer, bereft of a future but contentedly slurping his noodles in the middle of a tent city teeming with volunteers and survivors unbowed by their tragedy. His reply to the foreign reporter asking about his prospects: “I’m looking forward to the Olympics.” The resilience of China’s people shows that victory isn’t coming in first, but outlasting, outlasting bad luck, bad times, and anything else those nasty spirits care to throw their way.
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Unfortunately, each little creature has now been associated with of the aforementioned disasters, save one.
Unfortunately, each little creature has now been associated with of the aforementioned disasters, save one.
It is hard for outsiders to comprehend the impact this had on the country, but the shocked and upset looks on the faces of the 90,000 spectators at the stadium and the tears shed by native journalists during the consequent press conference give some indication.
I dont know a great deal about the fuwas and curses and your superstition, but I do know that the Olympics China arranged has been one of the best so far. The game has seen a lot of records that the world will remember for ages (Bolt, Phelps).
It is really a bit unfortunate that these little creature are being blamed for uncalled disasters. I really find them cute and dont find any good relation.
Yeah, I found it very harsh too. Its really sad that these cute creatures are being associated in some way with natural calamities or bad lucks.
What year you think this is, SS?
Have a piece of Beijing Olympics memory by constructing the official Beijing Olympics Mascots – Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini in paper. These papercraft models are available for download here: http://www.cardmodel.cn/viewthread.php?tid=761&extra=page%3D1
It is hard for outsiders to comprehend the impact this had on the country, but the shocked and upset looks on the faces of the 90,000 spectators at the stadium and the tears shed by native journalists during the consequent press conference give some indication.
this is such great information. thanks for the insight
While originally given artistic licence in his commission, Han Meilin was subsequently requested by officials to include various Chinese design and fauna in the Fuwa. Han Meilin drew 1,000 models of possible Fuwa (including a dragon and an anthropomorphic drum) before settling on the five characters. He has since disowned the Fuwa and did not include them in his museum.
Is there no end to these cute anime like characters in Asian culture. I would expect more cultural depth from the oldest civilizations on earth than these garish characters.
Helping the lonely, AND the kids. Nice combo.
I had some questionable sushi at a 68 RMB Japanese buffet last night, and spent the early morning hours suffering. The curse is finally lifted. We can move on.
Superstition is important to the Chinese so the authorities tried to ensure all augured well for their Games, but were their cute Olympic mascots instead responsible for a string of tragedies?
Well, the FUWAs is considered as auspicious symbols Beijing Olympics 2008, however, because of the disasters that had happened, some blamed to these FUWAs to be a curse.
If you have watched any news programs or read the newspapers lately you have heard about the claim that there is a curse on the ’08 Beijing Olympics. Recently there has been Internet buzz and claims within the Chinese citizenry itself all relating to the Fuwa’s which literally mean “Dolls of blessing” and the many calamities that have befallen the country within the past few months.
Gossip sites are full of speculation that four of the five cartoon mascots have fulfilled prophesies of doom with one more, connected to the Yangtze River, still to come, the South China Morning Post said.
Jingjing, a panda, is the animal most closely associated with Sichuan province where the earthquake struck.
Is there no end to these cute anime like characters in Asian culture. I would expect more cultural depth from the oldest civilizations on earth than these garish characters.
these things remind me of scarier versions of the teletubbies. thats all we need, multicultural olympic cartoons scaring our kids.
these things look as fake as chinas opening fireworks ceremony and the buildings in the background when watching the olympics on tv.
No one ever pretended they were real, WV, except maybe some imaginative 3 year olds.
Hello, I can’t understand how to add your blog in my rss reader.
See that button that says “RSS Feed” under “Around China in One Website”, Sears? Click that and follow instructions.
No one ever pretended they were real Sex toys are real.
The 2008 Games’ five mascots, known as the Fuwa or “good luck dolls” seemed as innocuous and inane as those from any other Olympiad.
If you have watched any news programs or read the newspapers lately you have heard about the claim that there is a curse on the ’08 Beijing Olympics. Recently there has been Internet buzz and claims within the Chinese citizenry itself all relating to the Fuwa’s which literally mean “Dolls of blessing” and the many calamities that have befallen the country within the past few months.
Beijing Olympics has led to greater respect for human rights.
The 2008 Games’ five mascots, known as the Fuwa or “good luck dolls” seemed as innocuous and inane as those from any other Olympiad.
But after a series of calamities that have befallen the host nation this year, millions of spooked Chinese have denounced Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan Huan, Yng Yng and Ni Ni as cursed demons.
The Fuwa consists of five members according to the traditional five elements: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. Each of the five names is designed to look like a plausible name for a small child, but when put together, they sound nearly identical to the phrase “北京欢迎你 Běijīng huānyíng nǐ” which means “Beijing welcomes you”. Each of the five figures also represents one of the five Olympic Rings.
Balloons in the shape of the Beijing Olympic Games mascots are released during a tourism festival in May. Floods sweeping southern China seem to have fulfilled the final stanza of an internet curse involving the Olympic mascots.
i wish i could record Beijing Olympics opening on my cam, it was so good.
Most of the American ideas of China surround magnificent mythology, the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon legends…these are of course, sadly, not always true. But the one aspect of Chinese cultural that we do tend to get right is the superstition.
Each of the five names is designed to look like a plausible name for a small child, but when put together, they sound nearly identical to the phrase “北京欢迎你 Běijīng huānyíng nǐ” which means “Beijing welcomes you”…..
Rest easy: I just had some atrocious sushi at a 68 RMB buffet last night.
I had some questionable sushi at a 68 RMB Japanese buffet last night.. haha
I agree, “yet there is a greater lesson in all this tumult and misfortune than the dangers of forgetting humility. We can learn it from the Beichuan farmer, bereft of a future but contentedly slurping his noodles in the middle of a tent city teeming with volunteers and survivors unbowed by their tragedy.”
What is the world coming to?
Los Angeles Carpet Cleaning
A total of five Fuwa, as they are affectionately known, and a lot of time and effort went into designing these playful cartoony mascots. Each was supposed to represent an intrinsic element of Chinese culture, and when arranged in the right order they spell out ‘Beijing welcomes you’ in Chinese characters. Cute. But look beneath the surface, as many have, and a worrying trend is clearly visible.
golf tournament contest
Chinese popular culture is rich with symbolism.”Curse of the Fuwas,” those five cuddly Olympic mascots, each with a regional or mythical association, that some diviners of ill-fortune say represent a ghastly premonition.
Unfortunately, each little creature has now been associated with of the aforementioned disasters, save one.
I A gree with ou, what actualyy happen?
Okay.
Well, the FUWAs is considered as auspicious symbols Beijing Olympics 2008, however, because of the disasters that had happened, some blamed to these FUWAs to be a curse.
Thanks and Regards
I am reading this news just now.I think we should not give much importance to superstitions and curses and as china has organized the Olympics in a fantastic way.
regards,
sam – Tax relief
these Fuwa images are cute, would like to add them to my collection of tattoo designs
Having pride is very important in American society not just in ones self but in ones work and ethic. Which is why it is so sad that it is consider a deadly sin over in China.
what a nice and unique information that you have provided about different topics here.
I real like your efforts that you have done for the improvement of this blog.
Thanks.
This supernatural something should be a lot more focus and everybody should know these things.
This supernatural something should be a lot more focus and everybody should know these things.
Most of the American ideas of China surround magnificent mythology, the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon legends…these are of course, sadly, not always true. But the one aspect of Chinese cultural that we do tend to get right is the superstition