Labubu suspected of 'incarnation' from 2,200 years ago, viral throughout the Chinese internet

Thanks to the appearance and size similar to the Labubu toy, the Spring and Autumn antiquities called "danglu" suddenly became famous throughout the Chinese internet. Many fans were amazed to comment that the aesthetics of the ancient Chinese "were far ahead of their time".

A bronze artifact from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC) on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province, China is causing a fever on the country's social networks. Many netizens humorously commented that this antique resembles Labubu - a very popular toy in recent years.

This artifact began to attract attention when an account posted a photo of it with the caption "Encounter a Labubu of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty at the Luoyang Museum" on the platform Xiaohongshu, a social network specializing in Chinese lifestyle. The bronze artifact is shaped like a doll with a round face with long ears, true to the typical head-to-body ratio of Labubu.

The above post created many lively discussions. One person commented: "This is the ultimate limited edition work." Some people joked: "When you accept this comparison, you will not be able to go back to admiring ordinary antiquities."

Archaeological records identify this bronze artifact called "danglu", which is an ornament on the horse's head that appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC). According to estimates, the antiquities excavated in Luoyang, which was once the capital of the Eastern Zhou dynasty, have existed for more than 2,200 years.

Experts explain that 'lu' means skull. This artifact is the main decoration on the horse's head, hence the name "danglu". It was an important horse ornament in ancient times.

Danglu is used as a mask, which ensures the safety of horses. Besides, it is also used to enhance the beauty and elegance of the horse, and to highlight the noble status and status of the owner. According to the staff of the Luoyang Museum, the danglu is an artifact owned by the Luoyang Archaeological Research Institute. Thanks to the design similar to the Labubu toy, the antique model is attracting a lot of visitors to the museum.

Currently, danglu is displayed in the exhibition hall on the second floor of the Luoyang Museum. The exhibition is co-organized by the Luoyang Museum and the Luoyang Archaeological Research Institute and takes place from May to August 2025.

The trend and origin of Labubu toys

In recent years, the art toy market has witnessed a strong explosion of many iconic characters. One of the most prominent names that cannot be ignored is Labubu – a lovely, strange but extremely attractive toy character, making young people and collectors across Asia "crazy". So where did the Labubu trend originate? Why has it become such a widely loved phenomenon?

The origin of Labubu – the brainchild of artist Kasing Lung

Labubu is the creative product of Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-Chinese artist born in 1972, famous for his colorful but surreal and somewhat ghostly illustration style. Kasing Lung used to be an illustrator of comics and children's books. It was from this foundation that he began to create imaginary characters, in which Labubu stood out and was the most successful.

Labubu first made his public debut in 2014 in the illustrated series "The Monsters" – where Kasing Lung builds a bizarre world with characters who look both cute and eccentric. The Labubu is described as a small creature with a thin body, a wide mouth full of sharp teeth, large eyes, and often a mischievous or innocent expression. That unique appearance is a mixture of fairy tale elements and light horror elements – a characteristic of Kasing Lung's style.

Initially, Labubu was just a character in an illustration. However, thanks to the collaboration between Kasing Lung and Pop Mart (a Chinese company specializing in the production and distribution of art toys according to the "blind box" model), Labubu has officially entered the world of physical toys and quickly formed a fever.

Evolution into a trend: Labubu and Pop Mart

The milestone that made Labubu a phenomenon throughout Asia was around 2018-2019, when Pop Mart began distributing the official Labubu product line in the form of Blind Boxes – small toy boxes, each containing a random character in the collection. Buyers won't know what sample they're getting until they open the box, which creates curiosity, excitement, and promotes collecting behavior.

Unlike mass toys, Labubu belongs to the group of art toys – products that are limited in design, artistic and often have high collectible value. Pop Mart takes advantage of this factor to build a community of players and collectors. Each year, the company releases a series of Labubu editions with themes such as Fairy Tale, Circus, Safari, Chinese Zodiac, or special collaborations with other brands. In particular, the "chase" (rare) versions usually only have a ratio of 1:144 boxes or lower, making their value on the black market can increase many times.

Labubu trend spreads among young people in Asia and Vietnam

In China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and more recently Vietnam, Labubu has become a household name among young people who love art, fashion and collectible toys. Young people not only buy Labubu to play or display but also show their own taste and personality. Many people also share photos of "check-in" with Labubu, create art photo spaces with this character, or even cosplay and fanart.

In Vietnam, the wave of Labubu collecting began to be strong around 2021, along with the development of social networks and the emergence of genuine Pop Mart stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. HCM. Labubu is more than just a toy, it's also a manifesto of personality. The mixture of cuteness and eccentricity in Labubu's appearance touches the "weird" aesthetic tastes of a part of modern youth – people who love differences, not follow the stereotype.

Labubu's Collecting Psychology and Cultural Values

The Labubu collectible trend is not only a manifestation of aesthetic tastes but also reflects the growing trend of "collectible culture". Today's young people are no longer satisfied with mass-produced items but tend to look for limited, unique and highly personal products. With each version of Labubu, collectors are not only looking for material value but also a sense of belonging, a sense of connection, and a sense of self-affirmation in the community.

In addition, Pop Mart's organization of exhibition events, fairs, product launches and exchanges with artists such as Kasing Lung also contributes to increasing cohesion in the fan community. Many people see Labubu as part of a journey to live slowly, enjoy art and nurture the "inner child" in the midst of stressful urban life.

Labubu's Future and Art Toy Trends

With Kasing Lung's continuous creativity and effective marketing capabilities from Pop Mart, Labubu is still continuing to develop and expand to many international markets. The image of Labubu is no longer limited to blind boxes, but also appears on fashion products, accessories, paintings, decorations, and even NFTs.

In the future, Labubu and the characters in Kasing Lung's "The Monsters" world are expected to develop as an art universe – where each character has their own story, personality and brings creative inspiration to fans.

The girl has low self-esteem because of her strange black birthmark, destined to be famous when she grows up. Nguyễn Tuyết07:42:43 29/01/2025The story of a little girl with a black birthmark right above her eye suddenly attracted attention and discussion from netizens after a post on the Threads platform. Unexpectedly, her fate was destined to be famous.