China's Embrace of 'Coco': Unraveling the Heartwarming Journey That Won Over Millions
“Remember me, though I have to say goodbye
Remember me, don't let it make you cry”
Whenever this familiar melody comes to mind, we are always reminded of the touching story that made us weep. In the colorful and enchanting world of "Coco," we are transported to Mexico, where music and family bonds intertwine in a heartwarming and magical tale.
In 2017, the American animated film "Coco" made quite a splash in the Chinese film industry. The movie received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Chinese audiences and won their hearts. Let's explore the resonating cultural elements between China and Mexico as depicted in "Coco."
Same, same but different — The cultures of China and Mexico
Qingming Festival in China vs. Día de Muertos in Mexico
"Coco" draws its inspiration from Mexico's "Día de Muertos" (Day of the Dead), a traditional festival where families gather to remember departed souls. This day serves as a way to honor and reconnect with loved ones who have passed away. Similarly, China's Qingming Festival, celebrated for over 2500 years, also focuses on honoring ancestors and strengthening family bonds and identity.
Despite sharing similar meanings, "Día de Muertos" and Qingming Festival have completely different atmospheres. In China, Qingming Festival is often filled with sadness and solemnity. Families gather early in the morning to sweep the ancestor’s graveyards following Confucious teachings on family obedience and piety, place snacks and fruits in front of the tombstones, bow and show respect, and burn joss paper to pray for the departed relatives' happiness in the afterlife.
However, "Día de Muertos" in Mexico is devoid of sorrow; instead, it's a joyful occasion where people gather with family, sing, and dance. In the eyes of Mexicans, death is not something to be feared; it is the act of being forgotten that marks the true end of life. People wear skull masks or paint their faces with skull patterns and wear clothes adorned with skeleton designs while parading through the streets. They also build altars to honor their deceased loved ones.
Naihe Bridge in China vs. Marigolds Bridge in Mexico
In one scene of the movie, countless spirits walk over a dazzling and colorful bridge adorned with marigold flowers, it's called Marigolds Bridge. Any Chinese audience member, upon seeing this scene, would be reminded of the Naihe Bridge. In Chinese folklore, the Naihe Bridge is believed to be the place where souls pass on to the next life. At the side of the Naihe Bridge, there is an elderly female deity known as Meng Po, who gives each spirit a bowl of Meng Po soup to forget their past memories before reincarnation into the next life.
In contrast, the Marigolds Bridge in Mexican culture is different. The Marigolds Bridge serves as a two-way passage for spirits to visit the human world and return to the spirit world. The other end of the bridge leads to the parallel world of the deceased, where, as long as someone in the human world remembers them, they can coexist with those people in the afterlife or reunite with them during the annual Day of the Dead celebration.
“For even if I'm far away, I hold you in my heart
I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart”
Although the languages and cultures of the two countries are different, the universal emotional resonance remains the same. Love is an eternal and unchanging theme, and the love of family can transcend life and death, and go beyond time. With heartfelt love and courageous pursuit of dreams, "Coco" brings us not only laughter and tears but also the contemplation of the value of life and a deep appreciation for the diverse cultures of the world.