ONCE UPON A TIME

2020.08

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Many temples in China have countless visitors, but there are temples that no one visits. Based on this observation, I created a story about the guardian elves of a run-down temple doing whatever they can to survive. Because no people go to that temple to offer oblations, these elves can only go down the mountain to beg from or rob passers-by. However, these elves are kind-hearted and never do anything harmful, so they are always blundering.

I include sets of character designs and scene designs in this series. My creation of these characters was based on frogs, snails, and birds, all of which are the most common animals in the forest. The prayer beads on the characters’ bodies symbolize their relationships to the temple. By depicting these elves as lovable, I want to bring attention to those who live in the far-away mountains, whether they are monks or ordinary people.