Yay!! finally i had collected the full set of the Beijing Olympics Fuwa from Mcdonald's. Got my last piece (beibei) today...thanks to BZ =D
These Fuwa are the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, they carry a message of friendship & peace and good wishes from China.
Their colours are the 5 Olympic Rings colours. Each Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name (a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China). They also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals - Beibei the Fish, Jingjing the Panda, Huanhuan the Olympic Flame, Yingying the Tibetan Antelope & Nini the Swallow.
When you put their names together - Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni (北京欢迎你)- means "Welcome to Beijing"At the headpieces of each Fuwa, you can see the 5 elements of nature - the sea, forest, fire, earth & sky - all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of the Chinese folk art & ornamentation.
Beibei (贝贝)In China's traditional culture & art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity & harvest.
Therefore 贝贝 carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year & good life.
贝贝's personality is gentle & pure, friendly and a leader. She is strong in water sports and she reflects the Blue Olympic Ring.
Her actual fengshui element is Water.
Jingjing (晶晶)
He brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. He makes children smile, you can see his joy in the charming naivety if his dancing pose & the lovely wave of his black and white fur.
As a national treasure & protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere.
The lotus design in his headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D 960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man & nature.
His actual fengshui element is wood.
晶晶 is chosen to represent our desire to protect nature's gift and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generation.
晶晶's personality is Honest & Optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the Black Olympic Ring.
Huanhuan (欢欢)He is the big brother in the intimate circle of Fuwa. He is a child of Fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and passion of sport - and the passion is the blessing he bestows.
欢欢 stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting.
His actual fengshui element is Fire.
The fiery designs of his head ornament comes from a design in the Mogao Caves (center of Dunhuang - the best known of Chinese Buddhist grottoes) with just a touch of China's traditional lucky designs.
欢欢 is outgoing & enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games & represents the Red Olympic Ring.
Yingying (迎迎)
He is fast & agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as he races across the earth, like all antelopes.
A symbol of the vastness of China's landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony & nature.
His head ornament incorporates several decorative styles from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of Western China.
His actual fengshui element is Earth. His personality is lively & independent.
Strong in track & field events, 迎迎 is a quick-witted and agile boy who represents the Yellow Olympic Ring.
Nini (妮妮)
Every spring and summer, the children have flown beautiful kites on the currents of wind that blow through the capital. Among the kite designs, the golden-winged swallow is traditionally one of the most popular.
Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck & good fortune as a blessing wherever she flies.
The swallow is a messenger of spring & happiness in Chinese culture.
Swallow is also pronounced "yan" in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city.
妮妮's actual fengshui element is Metal.
妮妮's personality is Justice & Kind. She is as innocent & joyful as a swallow. She is strong in gymnastics and represents the Green Olympics Ring.
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