- "Once they finally reached the very top of the great white porcelain wall, Dorothy, Toto and their friends all looked down below and saw before them a very breathtaking sight indeed-a little world that was made entirely of dainty china! "
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
Over the China Wall! (1900)
The China Country is a dainty little enclave hidden deep within the enchanted forest of the Quadling Country, which is the southern qaudrant of the magical Land of Oz. It is introduced in Baum's first Oz book titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900 and appears in the twentieth chapter of the book titled The Dainty China Country. This element from Baum's original Oz book was not in the classic MGM musical film of 1939.
The Dainty China Country
The China Country in Oz is a rarely ever visited place, probably for the better because of it's delicacy. The China Country is surrounded by a very, very high wall made out of thick, solid, polished porcelain of all white intended to protect the fragile little world inside. And the sky above this wall and little world, never has any rain or snow falling down.
China Country as illustrated in the Marvel Comic.
Dorothy Gale, her dog Toto and their three Ozian companions the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion come upon this dainty place on their way to visit Glinda the beautiful Good Witch of the South, after Oz's ruler known as the great Wizard's plan to return Dorothy and her dog back to their home in Kansas failed.
- "Before them was a great stretch of country having a floor as smooth as glass and shining, white as the bottom of a big spotless platter. Scattered around were many houses made entirely of china and painted in the most beautiful and brightest colors. These houses were quite small, the biggest of them reaching only as high as Dorothy's waist. There were also pretty little glazed barns, with glazed china fences around them; and many cows and sheep and horses and pigs and chickens, all made of china, were standing about in groups. "
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Oz (1900)
Inside A World of Dainty China...
The China Country beyond the porcelain wall is the most unique place in all of Oz, because its inhabtants, the tiny little people who live within are made entirely of china glass and are said to be no bigger than a baby-doll. And all the other living creatures there are all made of china as well. The floor of the China Country is glazed and polished smooth and is all white like the bottom of a big spotless platter. The many homes, shops, farms, palaces and even china mansions and castles are all neatly scattered around or lined up to make porcelain streets and walkways along the china floor. There are also chinna hills and china mountains placed upon this flooring. All the china items are delicately painted in bright and beautiful colors. Most of these dainty establishments are very small, the tallest building reach only as high as Dorothy's waist.
The China Doll Princess 1900
The China people are formed to represent kings, queens, figures of nobility, gentry, common folk and peasants. There is even a clumsy China Joker Clown. Dorothy learns that when one of the China people is injured or broken they may go to the China Mender to be repaired. However, while mending may repair it also disfigures and one is never as beautiful once they have been cracked. Individuals who have undergone mending are considered to be less attractive and of less worth than they had been before. The Joker Clown, having sustained many breaks from misguided attepts to stand on his head, bears evidence of his repairs in the form of ugly visible cracks that remain like scars over his entire face and body.
The China Joker 1900
- "My lady fair, why do you stare at poor old Mr. Joker? You're quite as stiff and prim as if you'd eaten up a poker!""
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
China milk maid.
The China people all move and talk and live quite freely, doing as they please in their own country, but if they were to ever venture beyond the white porcelain wall that surrounds the tiny world, their joints would instantly quickly freeze and stiffen, turning the china person to lifeless ornaments.
China Country in Oz.
- "Dorothy looked down at the China Princess and said, "Oh you are so beautiful, "that I am sure I could love you dearly. Won't you let me carry you back to Kansas, and stand you on Aunt Em's mantel? I could carry you in my basket." "That would make me very unhappy," answered the China Princess. "You see, here in our country we live contentedly, and can talk and move around as we please. But whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen, and we can only stand straight and look pretty. Of course that is all that is expected of us when we are on mantels and cabinets and drawing-room tables, but our lives are much pleasanter here in our own country." "I would not make you unhappy for all the world!" exclaimed Dorothy. "So I'll just say good-bye." "Good-bye," replied the China Princess. "
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
The China Princess in Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return.
It's hinted that in the frozen state the China person retains its ability to feel and think although they are robbed of all means of movement or speech. The china people can only live and die inside the China Country.
Over the China Wall
Return to Oz 1985
China joker in Return to Oz. 1985
In Disney's Cult Classic film Return to Oz, the China Joker can be seen in the coronation parade celebration towards the end of the movie.
Oz: The Great and Powerful
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China country in Oz: The Great and Powerful
China Country, refered to as China Town in the film, was razed by Evanora's Winged Baboons, after the witch caught wind that it's citizens were all happily celebrating the prophesized Wizard's arrival in Oz. Most of the town was destroyed, shattering it's inhabitants, except for one survivor, a young China Girl whose legs are broken in the melee.
China Girl in Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful.
The Wizard repairs her shattered legs with glue, giving her back the ability to walk. She is later adopted into the royal Court where we presume she lives on in safety. (Oz: The Great and Powerful)
Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return
The China Country is one of the lands in Oz that Dorothy Gale travels to in the film. (Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return.
China Country, as seen in Legends of Oz.
Legends of Oz World
In the Video game version; China Country can be visited by Dorothy's friend and Toto. (Legends of Oz World)
The interior of China Country palace in Legends of Oz World