Yuetu
Worldbuilding
The Stratum was said to have formed beneath the weight of what the world could not hold. At times, grief carried in silence and emotions were pushed under as people attempted to move on from their burdens. Unknowingly, these invisible weights began to manifest in another realm, where they crystallized into rivers and forests of jade. When The Stratum began to fracture and slowly consume the earth with it’s pressure, the rabbit Yuetu fell from the overworld and offered its spirit in order to preserve life above.
Bound to the Stratum ever since, Yuetu wanders its quiet paths, gathering broken jade and returning each fragment to the land to be resolved. Yet as time passes by, the rabbit begins to realize the reality of it’s sacrifice—with an immortal jade body, it is forever condemned to crushing the weight of the world above.
Focusing on form, figure, and function, I held onto aspects that stayed true to the original tale, such as the rabbit’s large cauldron for grinding items and it’s identity as a regal, somewhat mythical being. Distinctive jade marks engulf the body, suggesting there is something weighing the character down. Most importantly, the body stands upright in order to further elevate the rabbit’s transformation as something beyond it’s origin folktale.
The Stratum is a hidden realm where the weight of human emotion has taken physical form. The illustration above depicts the imagined jade world, which strangely imitates the real world, yet is filled with walls and obstructions. At first glance, The Stratum appears like an idyllic place. It is peaceful, that is, until one realizes why this world is so beautiful, almost untouched. In this vastness, not a single soul can be found.
