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{{Short description|Official mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing}}
{{About|the 2008 Summer Olympics mascots|the district in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan|Fuwa District, Gifu|the surname|Fuwa (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Fuwa.svg|thumb|275px|From left to right: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini]]
{{Infobox Chinese|title='''Fuwa'''|c=福娃|p=Fúwá|j=fuk1 waa1|l=dolls of blessing}}
{{2008 Summer Olympics}}

The '''Fuwa''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|福娃}}|p=Fúwá}}; literally "good-luck dolls", also known as "Friendlies") were the [[Olympic mascot|mascot]]s of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]]. The designs were created by [[Han Meilin]], a Chinese artist.<ref>[http://www.cctv.com/english/special/C16296/20060929/102865.shtml CCTV] - Retrieved 11 September 2007</ref> The designs were publicly announced by the National Society of Chinese Classic Literature Studies on 11 November 2005 at an event marking the 1000th day before the opening of the games.

There are five Fuwas: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini. Together, the names form the sentence "{{linktext|北|京|欢|迎|你}}", or "Beijing huanying ni," which means "Beijing welcomes you". Originally named 'The Friendlies', they were promoted as 'Fuwa' when concerns arose that the name could be misinterpreted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2006-10/17/content_710034.htm |title=Mascot renamed Fuwa in English |work=China Daily|date=17 October 2006 |access-date=2012-07-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=F|first=D|title=Not so friendly anymore|journal=Time Out|issue=November 2006|page=6|date=29 November 2006}}</ref>

While originally given [[artistic licence]] in his commission, Han Meilin was subsequently requested by officials to include various Chinese designs and fauna in the Fuwa.  Han Meilin drew 1,000 models of possible Fuwa (including a [[Chinese dragon|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.<ref name=online.wsj.com>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121677560339275779?mod=todays_us_page_one |author=Geoffrey A. Fowler|title=Here's Another Olympic Sport: Skewering the Mascots |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=23 July 2008 |access-date=13 January 2019}}</ref>

==Mascots==
===Beibei===
Beibei ({{lang-zh|贝贝}}) is one of the two female Fuwa who represents the blue Olympic ring of [[Europe]].

She took her motif from traditional [[Chinese New Year]] decorative picture of lotus and fish and the [[fish]] design from [[Neolithic]] artifacts. Her element motif are the sea and [[Water (wuxing)|water]]. She is a friendly leader (though the title of leader belongs to Huanhuan) who brings prosperity.

In traditional Chinese culture, the fish represents prosperity, as the character for fish (鱼 / 魚; ''yú'') sounds the same as that for surplus (余 / 餘; ''yú''). The "[[Longmen (mythology)|carp leaping over the dragon gate]]" is a traditional allegory of following one's dreams and achieving them. The pattern from Beibei's headgear comes from artifacts unearthed at [[Banpo]], site of a Neolithic village of the [[Yangshao culture]].

She is an expert at [[Water sport (recreation)|aquatic sports]].

=== Jingjing ===
Jingjing ({{lang-zh|晶晶}}) is one of the three male Fuwa who represents the black Olympic ring of [[Africa]].

He took his motif from the [[giant panda]] and the [[Song dynasty]] [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]]-shaped [[porcelain]]. His element motifs are the forest and [[Wood (wuxing)|wood]]. He is honest and optimistic Fuwa who always spreads happiness.

As an [[endangered species]], the panda is both a [[national symbol of China]] and an international symbol of [[environmentalism]]. Jingjing's forest origins also symbolize the harmonious coexistence of humankind and nature.

He is an expert at [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]], [[judo]], etc.

=== Huanhuan ===
Huanhuan ({{lang-zh|欢欢}}) is one of the three male Fuwa who represents the red Olympic ring of [[the Americas]].

He took his motif from the [[Olympic flame]] and the fire design from the [[Mogao Caves|Mogao Grottoes]]. As such, his elemental motif is [[fire (wuxing)|fire]]. He is an enthusiastic extrovert filled with passion.

He represents the passion of sports, the Olympic spirit of "[[faster, higher, stronger]]", and the passion of the Beijing Olympics. Huanhuan's headgear comes from a [[fire]] design in the [[Mogao Caves]], the best known of the Chinese Buddhist [[grotto]]es.

He is an expert at [[ball sports]]/[[racquet sports]].

=== Yingying ===
Yingying ({{lang-zh|迎迎}}) is one of the three male Fuwa who represents the yellow Olympic ring of [[Asia]].

He took his motif from the [[Tibetan antelope]] and [[Tibet]]an and [[Xinjiang]] ethnic costumes. His elemental motif is [[earth (wuxing)|earth]]. He is a lively and independent Fuwa who had an interest in health.

The [[Tibetan antelope]] is an [[endangered species]] native to the [[Tibetan Plateau]], known for its swiftness. Yingying's headgear incorporates elements of [[Tibet]]an and [[Xinjiang]] ethnic costumes.

He is an expert at [[track and field]].

=== Nini ===
Nini ({{lang-zh|妮妮}}) is one of the two female Fuwa who represents the green Olympic ring of [[Oceania]].

She took her motif from the swift bird and Beijing's [[sand martin]] [[kite]]. Her elemental motifs are sky and [[metal (wuxing)|metal]]. She is a just but also kind Fuwa who spreads good fortune.

The swallow is a messenger of spring and happiness in Chinese culture, and is seen as a symbol of good fortune. The Chinese character for swallow (燕 ''yàn'') is also used in Yanjing (燕京), an old name for Beijing; thus the swallow alludes to Beijing. Nini's headgear uses the design of Beijing's [[sand martin]] [[kite]]s, which are colourful cross-shaped kites modeled after swallows.

She is an expert at [[gymnastics]].

==Media==
===TV series===
{{Infobox animanga/Header
|name = The Olympic Adventures of Fuwa (福娃奧運漫遊記)
|image = 
|caption = 
|ja_kanji = 福娃オリンピック漫遊記
|ja_romaji = Fuwa Orinpikku Manyūki
|genre = [[Sports]], [[Comedy]], [[Supernatural]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|director = 
|producer =
|writer = 
|music =
|studio = KAKU TV<br />[[China Central Television|CCTV]]<br />[[NHK]]
|licensee = {{english anime licensee
 | NA = 
}}
|network = [[Beijing Radio and Television Station|BTV]]<br />[[NHK]]
|first = 6 February 2007
|last = 1 October 2007
|episodes = 100
|episode_list = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|title = Fuwa: Beibei's Promise{{r|group=Note|Beibei}}
|director = 
|producer =
|writer = 
|music =
|studio = [[China Central Television|CCTV]]<br />[[NHK]]
|network = [[China Central Television|CCTV]]<br />[[NHK]]
|first = 1 October 2007
|last = 2008
|episodes = 
|episode_list = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|title = Fuwa: the Five Rings{{r|group=Note|Rings}}
|director =
|producer =
|writer =
|music =
|studio = [[China Central Television|CCTV]]<br />[[NHK]]
|network = [[China Central Television|CCTV]]<br />[[NHK]]
|released = 2008
|episodes = 
|episode_list = 
|runtime = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
A 100-episode Olympic-themed anime series featuring the Fuwa was released in China, primarily on [[Beijing Radio and Television Station|BTV]] (Beijing's municipal television network), on 8 August 2007. Titled ''[[The Olympic Adventures of Fuwa]]'' ({{zh|c=福娃奥运漫游记|p=Fúwá Àoyùn Mànyóujì}}), it was jointly produced by BTV and Kaku Cartoon. It ran from 8 August to 1 October 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bjreview.com.cn/exclusive/txt/2007-10/31/content_84104.htm|title=Adventuring With the Mascots|author=Wang Wenjie|publisher=Beijing Review|date=31 October 2007|access-date=2008-06-16|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

There are also two sequels created by CCTV, Beibei's Promise and the Five Rings.<ref>[http://tvguide.cctv.com/20071201/101442.shtml 首页 > 电视指南 > 节目导视 > 正文] TV Guide 1 December 2007 (in Chinese){{webarchive|date=2 December 2007|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202054003/http://tvguide.cctv.com/20071201/101442.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cctv.com/west/special/C17993/20080514/103732.shtml |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 December 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225130054/http://www.cctv.com/west/special/C17993/20080514/103732.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Video game===
The characters made a cameo appearance in the ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'' video game.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}

===China Environmental Awareness Programme===
The China Environmental Awareness Programme program, started in 2001, has the Fuwa raising public environmental awareness by spreading clean, green messages.<ref>[http://www.undp.org.cn/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&catid=14&topic=6&sid=345&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Archived copy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005000654/http://www.undp.org.cn/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&catid=14&topic=6&sid=345&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 |date=5 October 2007 }} Five FuWa to star in a national campaign to promote Green Olympics.</ref>

===Fuwa theater show===
A large-scale fairy-tale drama entitled Friendlies (or Fuwa) has been directed by Beijing Children's Art Theater Cooperative to promote the five mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As ambassadors of peace, the Fuwa would make a world-tour, visiting all seven [[continent]]s.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120906062152/http://www.piao.com.cn/en_piao/ticket_1638.html Piao. Tickets]  Large-scale Fairy Tale Friendlies (Fuwa).</ref>

===Parodies===
Groups seeking to raise political issues in tandem with China's hosting of the Olympic Games have used the Fuwa or have created similar mascots.

* Nu Wa, a monkey with a red bandana, was created by [[Amnesty International]]. Nu Wa means "angry young boy".<ref>Uncensor.com.au "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080818115324/http://uncensor.com.au/uncensor/info/nuwa/ Uncensor]." ''China's Choice: A New Human Rights Record'' Retrieved 21 July 2008.</ref>
* Play Fair 2008, a campaign organised by the [[Clean Clothes Campaign]] (CCC), the [[International Trade Union Confederation]] (ITUC), and the [[International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation]] (ITGLWF) to raise awareness for the rights of workers involved in the sporting goods industries, have used the Fuwa.<ref>Playfair "[http://www.playfair2008.org/ Respect Worker's Rights in the Global Sporting Goods Sector]. Retrieved 21 July 2008.</ref>
* Gengen Genocide, a brown and yellow character wearing a gun and a fuel pump nozzle head-dress that forms a [[Skull and crossbones (poison)|skull and crossbones]], was developed by a group seeking to raise attention to the People's Republic of China's involvement in [[Darfur]].  Gengen's name is derived from the term [[genocide]].<ref>[http://blogs.theage.com.au/olympics/ Archived copy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109174713/http://blogs.theage.com.au/olympics/ |date=9 November 2013 }} "[http://blogs.theage.com.au/olympics/stephenhutcheon/2008/07/20/meettheevilo.html/ Meet the evil Olympic mascot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518013641/http://blogs.theage.com.au/olympics/stephenhutcheon/2008/07/20/meettheevilo.html |date=18 May 2015 }}." Retrieved 24 May 2013.</ref>

In addition, Beijing residents have allegedly created their own Fuwa set consisting of a duck, a dragonfly and a taxi.  Collectively their names—"Ya", "Ting", "De"—spell out "bastard" in Beijing slang.<ref name="online.wsj.com"/> (Note that among friends, "ni ya ting de", which means "you bastard", is a common term of endearment but is considered crude by many.)

==Superstitions==
===Wuwa===
In the months leading up to the Olympics, [[Synchronicity|coincidental]] similarities between the characters and several events became were noted on the internet blogs under titles such as "Curse of the Fuwa".<ref>Yahoo. "[https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080619/od_nm/curse_dc;_ylt=ArQ378qa8t84ZTJ_byUhmiIZ.3QA Yahoo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624050713/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080619/od_nm/curse_dc |date=24 June 2008 }}." ''Curse of the fuwa.'' Retrieved 21 June 2008.</ref><ref>Khaleejtimes. "[http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayarticle.asp?section=olympic2008&xfile=data/olympic2008/2008/May/olympic2008_May30.xml Khaleej Times] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603001833/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayarticle.asp?section=olympic2008&xfile=data%2Folympic2008%2F2008%2FMay%2Folympic2008_May30.xml |date=3 June 2008 }}." ''Chinese link earthquake to 'unlucky' Olympic mascots.'' Retrieved 19 May 2008.</ref> Some Chinese citizens have taken to calling the characters "Wuwa" (巫娃, witch dolls). Online criticism of the dolls has frequently been censored.<ref name="online.wsj.com"/>

* Nini, a swallow thought to be a [[kite (bird)|kite]], was blamed for the "kite city" of [[Weifang]] [[2008 China Railways train T195 accident|T195 train accident]].  Nini was also believed to be a [[locust]], and associated with a locust plague that infested Inner Mongolia in June 2008.<ref name="online.wsj.com"/>
* Yingying, a [[Tibetan antelope]], for the [[2008 Tibetan unrest]].
* Huanhuan, representing the Olympic flame, for the [[2008 Summer Olympics torch relay|Summer Olympics torch relay]] protests.
* Jingjing, a [[panda]], for the [[2008 Sichuan earthquake|Sichuan earthquake]]. The epicenter of the earthquake is very close to the [[Wolong National Nature Reserve#2008 Earthquake|Wolong Nature Reserve]].
* Beibei, a [[Chinese sturgeon]] of water/sea element, for the [[2008 South China floods]].

===Killer barracuda===
Beibei is represented by a [[Chinese sturgeon]].<ref>Olympics.scmp. "[http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=771 Olympics.scmp]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Fishing for an angle to Olympic fortunes.'' Retrieved on 2008-07-08.</ref> Five sturgeons were presented by China to Hong Kong<ref name="Chinadaily1">Chinadaily. "[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2008-06/25/content_6794742_2.htm Chinadaily]." ''Chinese sturgeon dies in Hong Kong aquarium.'' Retrieved on 2008-07-18.</ref> with each fish representing an [[Olympic symbols|Olympic ring]], in addition to the "motherland's love" for the Hong Kong [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|Special Administrative Region]].<ref>Thestandard. "[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=21&art_id=67685&sid=19510702&con_type=1&d_str=20080625&fc=4 Thestandard.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105044929/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=21&art_id=67685&sid=19510702&con_type=1&d_str=20080625&fc=4 |date=5 January 2010 }}." ''Blame game all a bit fishy.'' Retrieved on 2008-07-08.</ref> The smallest of the five sturgeon (1.1 meters) was bitten by one of the [[barracuda]]s housed in the same aquarium, and died the day after being publicly released into the city's theme park aquarium [[Ocean Park, Hong Kong|Ocean Park]].<ref name="Chinadaily1"/><ref>Monstersandcritics.com. "[http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/bizarre/news/article_1413060.php Monstersandcritics.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520060355/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/bizarre/news/article_1413060.php |date=20 May 2011 }}." ''Hong Kong red-faced after killing China Olympic mascot fish.'' Retrieved 25 June 2008.</ref> Necropsy showed that the bite was not aggressive, but a reflex action from contact between the fish.<ref name="HKStandard">HKStandard. "[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=67696&sid=19507163&con_type=3 HKStandard] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105175616/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=67696&sid=19507163&con_type=3 |date=5 January 2010 }}." ''No one at fault in sturgeon death says Ocean Park.'' Retrieved on 2008-06-25.</ref> Ocean Park said no one is at fault since in the almost 10 years the eight barracudas had been with the park, they had never showed any signs of aggression.<ref name="HKStandard"/> [[Feng shui]] experts were divided about the death of the sturgeon, there were some that said this event may imply misfortune, and there were some that said 'the public did not need to worry too much because all fish die' and 'Can I say it's a bad omen for the Olympic Games if, for example, my five tadpoles—which I say represent the Olympic rings—die at home?'.<ref>SCMP. "[http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=771]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''Fung shui expert fishing for an angle to Olympic fortunes.'' Retrieved on 2008-06-25. This link may get relocated like most SCMP links. Look in the archive for the article title.</ref> Beijing's central government replaced the one that died with five more sturgeons.<ref>China.org.cn. "[http://www.china.org.cn/environment/news/2008-07/15/content_16012130.htm China.org.cn]." ''Beijing to give five more sturgeons to Hong Kong.'' Retrieved 8 July 2008.</ref>

===Han Meilin===
[[Han Meilin]] suffered two [[heart attack]]s while designing the Fuwa.<ref name="online.wsj.com"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Olympics|Fantasy
|Cartoon|Asia|China}}
* [[Fu Niu Lele]], [[Paralympic mascot|mascot]] of the [[2008 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Beijing]]
* [[Lele (mascot)|Lele]], [[Olympic mascot|mascot]] of the [[2014 Summer Youth Olympics]] in Nanjing
* [[Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon|Bing Dwen Dwen]], [[Olympic mascot|mascot]] of the [[2022 Winter Olympics]] in Beijing
* Shuey Rhon Rhon, [[Olympic mascot|mascot]] of the [[2022 Winter Paralympics]] in Beijing

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Beibei>{{zh|c=福娃: 贝贝的诺|p=Fúwá: Bèi bèi de nuò}}; [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: {{Nihongo|福娃：ベイベイの約束|Fuwa: Beibei No Yakusoku}}</ref>
<ref name=Rings>{{zh|c=福娃五连环|p=Fúwá wǔ liánhuán}}; [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: {{Nihongo|福娃の五連環|Fuwa No Gorenkan}}</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801083416/http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/n214068254.shtml |title=The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games|date=1 August 2008}}
*{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814054122/http://fengshuifaqs.com/feng-shui/beijing-2008-part-1/|title=Beijing 2008 - Olympics and 5 elements|date=14 August 2008 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|2008 Summer Olympics mascots}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061220074252/http://en.beijing2008.com/37/03/column211990337.shtml The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (English)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080508065044/http://www.beijing2008.com/48/01/column211990148.shtml The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Chinese)]
* [http://pinyin.info/news/?p=203 Comments on the linguistics of the Friendlies' names]
* [http://papercraftparadise.blogspot.com/2008/04/olympic-mascot-fuwa-beibei-papercraft.html Fuwa Papercraft]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[List of Olympic mascots|Olympic mascot]]'' <br /> The Fuwa|before=[[Neve and Gliz]]|after=[[Miga, Quatchi, Sumi and Mukmuk|Miga, Quatchi and Mukmuk]]|years=''Beijing 2008''}}
{{S-end}}
{{Olympic mascots}}
{{CCTV shows}}

[[Category:2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Mascots introduced in 2005]]
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[[Category:Chinese mascots]]
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