樂高：從遊戲到文化傳承
#lego #game #culturalliteracy #legacy
身在全世界最大的移民國家，我愈發感受到文化的流動和多元的重要性，尤其是在孩子們的玩具世界裡！
樂高（LEGO）作為兒童遊戲的經典代表，這幾年已經從傳統積木玩具公司，蛻變為流行文化和娛樂世界的重要推手。
從歐式建築模型到融合流行與國際文化元素的創意設計，樂高的進步不僅擴大了品牌的觸角，還提升了其產品的收藏價值和影響力。
除此之外，大家似乎慢慢有種感覺：好像自己「被看見」了誒！
Living in the world's largest immigrant country, I increasingly feel the importance of cultural flow and diversity, especially in the world of children's toys!
LEGO, a classic representation of children's play, has transformed over the years from a traditional building block toy company into a significant force in pop culture and the entertainment world.
From European architectural models to creative designs that incorporate elements of popular and international cultures, LEGO's progress has not only expanded the brand's reach but also enhanced the collectibility and influence of its products.
Moreover, there seems to be a growing sense that it feels like we are "being seen"!
「被看見」的感覺，有多重要？
對於孩子來說，這份「被看見」的感覺至關重要。看到自己文化的元素出現在玩具裡，彷彿找到了一個小小的舞台，讓他們認識到自己背景的獨特與驕傲。
樂高與許多熱門電影、電視和遊戲品牌的合作，如《星際大戰》、《哈利波特》和漫威系列，讓它的產品跨越傳統玩具範疇，成為各個年齡層粉絲夢寐以求的收藏品。
而最近，亞洲文化的元素也逐漸融入樂高的遊戲設計中，這是一個令人欣喜的趨勢！
How important is the feeling of being "seen"?
For children, the feeling of being "seen" is crucial. When elements of their own culture appear in toys, it's like finding a small stage that allows them to recognize the uniqueness and pride of their background.
LEGO's collaborations with popular movie, TV, and game franchises, such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Marvel series, have allowed its products to transcend traditional toy boundaries, becoming highly sought-after collectibles for fans of all ages.
Recently, elements of Asian culture have gradually been incorporated into LEGO’s game designs, which is an exciting trend!
樂高的文化之旅
這幾年，樂高對亞洲文化的探索不僅侷限於中國風，而是更加多元化。
農曆新年的系列產品中，我們已經能看到融合日本、越南等地特色的作品，充分展現了多元亞洲文化的魅力！
孩子們透過這些充滿文化底蘊的積木，不僅能建造出驚艷的作品，還能在遊戲中學習到不同文化的傳統與故事。這是一種寓教於樂的方式，讓文化成為生命中深刻的一部分。
LEGO's Cultural Journey
In recent years, LEGO’s exploration of Asian culture has expanded beyond just Chinese traditions and become much more diversified.
In their New Year series, we can already see creations that incorporate elements from Japan, Vietnam, and other places, showcasing the charm of diverse Asian cultures!
Through these culturally rich LEGO sets, children can not only build impressive models, but also learn about the traditions and stories of different cultures in their play. This is an educational and fun way to make culture a deep part of their lives.
值得收藏的文化遊戲
以下是我最喜歡的幾款樂高文化系列，真的是每一款都讓人愛不釋手：
Cultural Games Worth Collecting
Here are a few of my favorite LEGO cultural series sets—each one is truly irresistible:
80110 Lunar New Year Display：已經停產，但美極了！這一組象徵傳統的農曆新年祝福，透過金元寶、紅包、錦鯉和「招財進寶」等元素，表達財富、繁榮與幸福的寓意。金元寶代表富貴，紅包象徵好運，錦鯉寓意吉祥，而「招財進寶」則意為「財富與寶物進家門」，表達迎接財富與繁榮的美好祝願。
80110 Lunar New Year Display: Although it’s no longer in production, it’s absolutely beautiful! This set symbolizes traditional Lunar New Year blessings, featuring elements like golden ingots, red envelopes, koi fish, and the phrase "Zhao Cai Jin Bao," which conveys wealth, prosperity, and happiness. Golden ingots represent wealth, red envelopes symbolize good luck, koi fish signify good fortune, and "Zhao Cai Jin Bao" means "let wealth and treasures enter the home," expressing a warm wish for the arrival of wealth and prosperity.
80116 Trotting Lantern：又叫「走馬燈」，燈籠內點燃一支蠟燭，產生的熱量和氣流會帶動附有剪紙圖案的輪子旋轉。這些剪紙圖案通常描繪帶有吉祥意涵的圖像，例如英勇的將軍騎馬。(上面的中文字還是繁體的誒！）
80116 Trotting Lantern: Also known as the "rotating lantern," it features a candle inside a lantern that generates heat and airflow, causing a wheel with paper cutouts to spin. The paper cutouts usually depict auspicious images, such as brave generals riding horses.
80117 Good Fortune：這款模型展現了傳統中國象徵，寓意在節日期間帶來幸運與繁榮，包括帶有春花圖案的扇子、金元寶，以及書寫吉祥文字的捲軸等元素。
80117 Good Fortune: This model represents traditional Chinese symbols that bring good luck and prosperity during the holiday, including a fan with spring blossoms, golden ingots, and a scroll with auspicious text.
40648 Money Tree：這款模型特別設計為傳統的中國「搖錢樹」，象徵著富饒、繁榮與好運；樹上裝飾有橘子、紅包和錢幣等物品，這些都是中國文化中寓意吉祥的象徵。雖然這款樂高套件靈感來自中國的習俗，但它所融入的元素——如橙子、紅包和硬幣——在越南的新年慶祝活動（Tết）中也具有重要意義，象徵著財富、繁榮和好運。
40648 Money Tree: This model is specially designed to represent a traditional Chinese "money tree," symbolizing abundance, prosperity, and good fortune. The tree is decorated with items like tangerines, red envelopes, and coins, all considered auspicious symbols in Chinese culture. While this set is inspired by Chinese customs, the elements it incorporates—such as tangerines, red envelopes, and coins—are also significant in Vietnamese celebrations like Tết, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and good luck.
40813 Lucky Cat：這款迷人的裝飾品以日本招財貓（Maneki-neko）為靈感，打造出引人注目的展示品，據說能為主人帶來好運和繁榮。
40813 Lucky Cat: This charming decorative piece is inspired by the Japanese "Maneki-neko" (beckoning cat) and creates an eye-catching display. It is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the owner.
10344 Lucky Bamboo：這款作品代表了一種被視為帶來好運的植物，象徵著傳統藝術中的夏季，並被列為東亞文化中「四君子」之一。這套樂高寓意為主人帶來積極的能量與好運。
10344 Lucky Bamboo: This set represents a plant believed to bring good luck. It symbolizes the summer season in traditional art and is considered one of the "Four Gentlemen" of East Asian culture. This LEGO set is meant to bring positive energy and luck to the owner.
每次逛樂高店的時候，我都忍不住看得心花怒放，好想把整個系列都包下來！
不過，荷包君和孩子們總會理智地提醒我：「請理性消費！」😂
Every time I visit a LEGO store, I can't help but feel excited and want to buy the entire collection!
However, my wallet and kids always remind me with reason: “Don’t forget to be money wise!” 😂
懷舊與忠誠度
如果大家小時候喜歡玩樂高，那麼現在的各種新款式，想必能喚起大家的童年回憶，而的確現在樂高不只是孩子的玩具了。
像是樂高建築系列和樂高創作者專家系列，吸引了尋求更複雜建造和現實模型的成人粉絲，這些模型通常是基於具有象徵意義的現實世界結構或車輛。
隨著樂高在流行文化中的人氣持續攀升，一個新趨勢浮現了：樂高投資。
Nostalgia and Loyalty
If you enjoyed LEGO as a child, these new sets are sure to bring back fond memories of your childhood. Indeed, LEGO is no longer just a toy for kids.
LEGO’s Architecture and LEGO Creator Expert series, for example, appeal to adult fans who are looking for more complex builds and realistic models, often based on iconic real-world structures or vehicles.
As LEGO’s popularity continues to soar in pop culture, a new trend has emerged: LEGO investing.
新投資工具？
在Money Wise Investing的進階課程中，我和孩子們聊到樂高也是一種投資工具，孩子們好興奮啊。根據一項分析1987至2015年樂高價格的研究，停產的樂高套件每年平均增值11％，超過了黃金、股票和債券等傳統投資。
隨著樂高繼續與流行品牌合作並滿足成人收藏家的需求，流行文化趨勢和樂高套件價值之間的相互影響將可能繼續成為收藏市場的一個重要特徵。
A New Investment Tool?
In my "Money Wise Investing" class, I discussed with my kids that LEGO can also be an investment tool, and they were so excited! According to a study analyzing LEGO prices from 1987 to 2015, retired LEGO sets appreciated in value by an average of 11% annually, outpacing traditional investments like gold, stocks, and bonds.
As LEGO continues to collaborate with popular brands and cater to adult collectors, the influence of pop culture trends on LEGO set values is likely to remain a significant feature of the collectibles market.
樂高不僅是一個玩具品牌，更是一個文化交流的載體。它用創意和設計，讓孩子們在遊戲中打開視野、增進理解，成為連接不同文化的重要橋樑。
玩樂高，不只是建造模型，還是在建立文化認同、探索多元世界。
你最喜歡的文化系列是哪一款呢？
LEGO is not only a toy brand, but also a vessel for cultural exchange. Through creativity and design, it opens up children's minds and enhances their understanding, serving as an important bridge connecting different cultures.
Playing with LEGO is not just about building models, but about constructing cultural identity and exploring a diverse world.
Which of these cultural series is your favorite?