Meet the Fuwa

I’d like to introduce you to my new friends, the Fuwa.

Bei bei – the Fish – carries the blessing of prosperity

Jing jing – the Panda – …happiness

Huan huan – the Olympic Flame – …passion

Ying ying – the Tibetan Antelope – …health

Ni ni – the Sparrow – …good luck

The Fuwa are the five mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In traditional Chinese style, each mascot’s designs hold symbolic meanings on many levels, from their animal types and headdresses to the meaning of the phrase formed when you combine their names. “Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni” translates to “Welcome to Beijing”. You can read more about the Fuwa in detail here if you so desire.

I didn’t think that I liked them at first—the Fuwa. There are FIVE! What excess, I thought. What blatant maximization of paraphernalia products for profit! Children won’t be satisfied with just one plush stuffed Huan huan doll. They’ll need ALL FIVE—the collector’s set. They’re milking consumers for all they’ve got, I judged.

Yesterday, as I wandered through the Official Flagship Store of the Beijing Olympics, I saw Fuwa backpacks and pen sets, Fuwa commemorative coins and pins, Fuwa USB flash drives and cell phone tassels, Fuwa travel coffee mugs, Fuwa antique-style porcelain ware...

Suddenly I found myself cost comparing Fuwa decal stickers. As a saleswoman approached, I backed away from the glass display case. I’d better google these Fuwa folk, I decided. I’ve got to find out more about who I’m dealing with here. Exiting the store, I was strangely drawn to pet the soft-looking fur of a four-foot plush Jing jing.

So I did a little cyber research, and… It’s not that I’ve totally rejected my previous theory, but I’ve decided that I don’t mind this particular exploitation quite so much.

I’ll admit it. Those cute little faces got to me. Not that I hadn’t seen them before, but I didn’t let myself look that closely before. To learn their names and about how each tiny aspect of their appearance and character was drawn from things China—traditionally and modernly China.

So the Fuwa are a spectacular marketing ploy (yes, I’m being dramatic), but they’re magical too (or maybe, “and so” they’re magical). What they represent inspires hope and dreams in children and adults the world around. And that’s special.

Above all else, the heart of the Fuwa mission is supposed to be seeking “to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit”.

And who's not for that?