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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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Comments
fuwa
From my point of view, I don't think we should blame all the catastrophe happen to the china on the shoulder of the fuwa because it is also us, the human being who create them and who organise the Olympic. As I know, all the suffering are coming from our own mind. If we still blame them, it's as if we are blaming our god putting us in such situation. I think we should try our best to endure it and learn from this experience to make us a better person.. I don't say that Chinese superstition is ridiculous because I'm also a Chinese and I think it enhance our life and make it more interesting. That's what make us unique than other races. But we must also try to think rationally..
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Unfortunately, each little creature has now been associated with of the aforementioned disasters, save one.
Unfortunately, each little
Unfortunately, each little creature has now been associated with of the aforementioned disasters, save one.
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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 loved your Olympics
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
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
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.
I loved your Olympics
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.
Thank
this is such great information. thanks for the insight
While originally given
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.
Shu's existence was unknown
Shu's existence was unknown until an archaeological discovery in 1986 at a small village named Sanxingdui (三星堆 Sān Xīng Duī) in Guanghan County. It is believed to be an ancient city of the Shu Kingdom, where excavations have yielded invaluable archaeological information.
Shu's on First?
Neil's too busy blogging about how to get rich to stay on topic. Thanks for stopping by though!
Enough of the cute characters!
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
Helping the lonely, AND the kids. Nice combo.
In case you ever wondered if
In case you ever wondered if those Olympic Fuwas weren't just a little too cute to be true, apparently you aren't the only one.
The Disasters were really
The Disasters were really unlucky, but it's really harsh to blame the cute mascots.
I thinks it's co- incidence
I thinks it's co- incidence and we should not blame the Olympic for this.
My Chinese teacher bounced
My Chinese teacher bounced in this morning and started scribbling numbers on my notepad. "Look!" she said, "It's the curse of eight!"
LOL
One Fuwa has a kite on its
One Fuwa has a kite on its head, representing Weifang, and then something happened in Shandong;
One Fuwa is a Tibetan antelope, and then something happened in Tibet;
One Fuwa is a torch, and then something happened to the Olympic torch;
One Fuwa is a panda, and then something happened in Sichuan;
Now there's still the fish left…
It's over, Johnny
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
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
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.
That's what I was tryin to
That's what I was tryin to tell ya!
In case you ever wondered if
In case you ever wondered if those Olympic Fuwas weren't just a little too cute to be true, apparently you aren't the only one.
If you have watched any news
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
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.
cute anime
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.
We create our own destiny
We create our own destiny and should act responsibly with everything we do. Although disasters are out of our hands, isn't it a little strange to blame it on the Fuwas?
A chinese man killed Todd
A chinese man killed Todd Bachman in Beijing today before jumping to his death from an ancient tower. Todd Bachman was the father-in-law of Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon, his wife is still in hospital for her injuries. Not part of the curse of the fuwas.
With China's government
With China's government leaving nothing to chance at this summer's Olympics, it is by no means a coincidence that the Games will begin at eight minutes past 8 on the evening of the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 2008.
What year you think this is,
What year you think this is, SS?
Attending an Olympic team
Attending an Olympic team dressage equestrian event in Hong Kong over the weekend was an instructive and at times, humorous experience. Dressage itself is a subtle sport for a novice. Watching horses and riders make the same walk-trot-canter pattern around a ring over and over could even be called dull. But the experience beautifully illustrated the political differences between this city and its "parent," the People's Republic of China, and the cultural similarities between Hong Kong and mainland Chinese citizens.
Wheelie bins may not yet be
Wheelie bins may not yet be ubiquitous, but the Fuwa are everywhere. These five cute Olympic mascots are inescapable - from cartoons broadcast on every domestic flight, to the pages of those Olympic handbooks handed out to Beijing's 15 million residents.
tele-whaties
these things remind me of scarier versions of the teletubbies. thats all we need, multicultural olympic cartoons scaring our kids.
what?
these things look as fake as chinas opening fireworks ceremony and the buildings in the background when watching the olympics on tv.
Brace yourself
No one ever pretended they were real, WV, except maybe some imaginative 3 year olds.
Have a piece of Beijing
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
These Fuwas represent each
These Fuwas represent each of the 5 elements you find in Feng Shui (earth, fire, wind, wood, water) as well as a particular grouping of Olympic sports, and they are dressed in various traditional Chinese costumes. The Chinese public has attributed recent controversies and disasters in that country to these dolls, and the Pastor, as always, has an interesting take on the curse as well. I'm posting an excerpt of the entry here, but please follow the link in my first paragraph to read the whole thing and to see better pictures of the individual Fuwas.
Hello, I can’t understand
Hello, I can’t understand how to add your blog in my rss reader.
See that button that says
See that button that says "RSS Feed" under "Around China in One Website", Sears? Click that and follow instructions.
If you have watched any news
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.
Olympics
Beijing Olympics has led to greater respect for human rights.
The Cartoon depictions of
The Cartoon depictions of the FUWAs are super cute! But you are right I don't we should blame it all on the fuwa. Great article
The 2008 Games’ five
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
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
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.
No one ever pretended they
No one ever pretended they were real Sex toys are real.
The 2008 Games’ five
The 2008 Games’ five mascots, known as the Fuwa or “good luck dolls” seemed as innocuous and inane as those from any other Olympiad.
Most of the American ideas
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.
recording opening on cam
i wish i could record Beijing Olympics opening on my cam, it was so good.
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