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Foreigners embark on a culture journey of the making of Rabbit King

2017/10/31 10:38:12   source:sdchina.com

Tuziwang, or the Rabbit King, is the most famous rabbit in Jinan. It was initially worshipped as the rabbit god and now it has become a symbol of the local traditional culture. It was included as an intangible cultural heritage with the adding of some spring elements. Recently, four overseas students from Shandong University started a culture journey to explore the history of tuziwang and learn how to make this clay figurine.

Tuziwang is a kind of clay figurine with the head of a rabbit and the body of a human. The head usually includes a white face, red mouth and long ears. Sometimes, a spring links the head and the body so  the head can wag from side to side. Traditionally, tuziwang are dressed up as characters in dramas, wearing hats, red robes and with drug pestles or spears in their hands.

According to Yang Feng, the founder of Quancheng Tuziwang Studio, the Rabbit King is related to the culture of the moon and the Mid-autumn Festival. In Jinan, it was worshipped as the rabbit god during the Mid-autumn Festival in ancient times.

“Traditional culture is also a way of life,” said Yang Feng. It is an old folk custom in Jinan to worship and appreciate the moon, eat mooncakes and worship tuziwang. The clay figurine of tuziwang is usually placed on the altar when worshipping the moon. After the ceremony, the clay figurines become favorite toys for children.

Yang Feng is a native of Jinan. He heard of the legend of the Rabbit King in his childhood and was curious about this clay figurine but had no chance to see them. Later, after reading a series of folk art books he created his own tuziwang—the image in his heart with Jinan characteristics.

Tuziwang made by Yang Feng adopt the feature of Chinese character quan (spring), creating the scenery of Baotu Spring, Heihu Spring and Wulong Pool.

Currently, Yang Feng spends most of his time on the creation of the 72 springs series of clay figurine. Each series embodies the feature of the spring with related poems and seals carved on the back of them.

Yang Feng hopes to let more people know tuziwang, the genuine Jinan folk art. “I hope whenever people talk about Jinan, they would think of tuziwang,” said Yang. Yang Feng is trying his best to promote tuziwang which integrates the Chinese moon culture and Jinan spring culture across China and to the world.

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