Mid-Autumn Festival Traditions: Rabbit God revived in Chinese culture

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For people in Beijing, the Mid-Autumn Festival is more than just family gatherings and moon cakes. The clay toy of Rabbit God takes Beijingers for a walk down the memory lane. CGTN's Lu Sirui shows us how the old has become new in China's capital.

The Rabbit God is a fond memory for many Beijingers, especially those in their 50s. Traditionally, worshipping the Rabbit God is a must for kids during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the city, representing strong wishes for health and family prosperity.

It is now listed as one of Beijing's Intangible Cultural Heritage icons. Zhang Zhongqiang insists in the preservation of this tradition. His workshop is now always crowded with kids in love with the sculpture.

ZHANG ZHONGQIANG INHERITOR, BEIJING'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE "Older folks like the Rabbit God because of their childhood memories. Now more and more young people are embracing it. Especially among those who have studied and lived in foreign countries. The Rabbit God is different from other toys, it is the carrier of cultural heritage in this area."

Legend has it that long ago, there was a health epidemic in Northern China that doctors couldn't do anything about. So the Moon Goddess sent her rabbit to earth to treat the disease. Since then, Rabbit God is worshipped by locals to wish for good health.

ZHANG ZHONGQIANG INHERITOR, BEIJING'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE "There are very few old-fashioned Rabbit God sculptures still around today. Five of them are kept in the Forbidden City. Today, the sculpture's style has become more diverse, more colorful and etched with traits of new eras. This unique cultural symbol of Beijing, is not only accepted by the people here, but also welcomed by foreigners."

The clay painted sculpture has also been a favorite toy of Beijing Children since the 17th century, but with the range of choices that children have in today's modern world, will it become harder for parents to keep their young ones interested?

"We like to paint Rabbit Gods. In our Art Class, we usually do some drawings. We hope that we can paint Rabbit God in our Art Class."

"It is very meaningful for children to know about and to participate in old Beijing culture. They are the future, so they need to carry on the spirit."

ZHANG ZHONGQIANG INHERITOR OF BEIJING'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE "I was once worried about losing the culture. But as the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage for 13 years, I have to say, right now is the best time to promote the culture and therefore keep it. Because the government supports it, companies support it and people love it."

And it's this comeback by Rabbit God that tells Zhang the tradition will live on for many more Mid-Autumn festivals. LU SIRUI, CGTN, BEIJING.