Beijing legend gets modern treatment

The play shows the conflict between two generations as well as mirroring the transformation of the capital.

Tu'er Ye has become the center of Wang's play.

"I watched a TV show last year, which was about an old handicraftsman, who spent his whole life working on Tu'er Ye. His story touched me not only because of his solid techniques but also for his devotion to the traditional art. Now, many old arts like making Tu'er Ye have almost died, which is a sad thing," says Wang.

By watching the TV show, Wang also learned more about Tu'er Ye, a symbol of old Beijing. Usually sold before the Mid-Autumn Festival, it originally resembled a shrine, but gradually evolved into a toy. It is regarded as part of the folk art of Beijing. According to legend, Tu'er Ye first appeared at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and thrived in the middle of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The story intrigued Wang.

The story goes that there was an epidemic in ancient China and doctors could not do anything about it. So the Moon Goddess sent her rabbit to Earth to treat the disease. However, because the rabbit is white, a color associated with death in the past, people did not allow the rabbit to enter their homes to treat the disease. The rabbit realized the problem and went to the temple to borrow an outfit of the saints. That's why Tu'er Ye has different outfits. Eventually, people began to revere him.