介绍:
According to one particular Chinese fairy tale, humans were created out of clay by a goddess. In the hands of folk artists, this tale is mimicked over and over, and the inanimate clay is molded into fascinating sculptures through kneading, sun drying, coloring and baking.
There are many different types of clay figurines from different areas all across China, and the Fengxiang County figurines stand out from all of them. Hu Xinmin is a local clay figurine maker whose works "Peaceful Horse" and "Fortune Sheep" were chosen by the China Post to go on the country's stamps. Pictures of these figures have also been published as the images of the corresponding symbolic animals in the Chinese zodiac. Hu has also received the UNESCO honor "master of Chinese folk art" . He explains the history of the Fengxiang clay figurines.
"According to archaeologists and experts on folk culture, the craft of making painted clay-figurines in Fengxiang has a history of some 3,000 years, dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty. These clay figurines are a living embodiment of the artistic essence of the Han and Tang dynasties. Their bold shapes are wildly exaggerated and painted in bright colors, and are thought to have a strong local flavor. You can also find characteristic art expressions on Fengxiang's clay figurines, like those which were featured in many art forms back in the Zhou and Qin dynasties. "
The best clay sculptures are from Liuying Village, in Fengxiang, where clay figurines have been made for 500 years. It is said that in the late Yuan dynasty, a battalion of soldiers, called "Liuying", was stationed in this area and then settled down, and it was later called "Liuying Village". Many of the soldiers were from Jiangxi Province and were good at making pottery. In peacetime, the demobilized soldiers made various figures using the clay in the village; and that was the origin of today's Fengxiang clay figurines.
The sculptures are made from special clay called "Ban Ban Tu" found only in Liuying Village. The clay is not suitable for making pottery, but great for making sculptures because it's very sticky and doesn't crack easily once it's dried. Clay figures are not baked in a kiln like pottery, they are left to dry in the shade. Hu Xinmin says the techniques used to make the figures are very complicated.
"There are in total 13 main procedures and 36 detailed processing techniques involved in making the clay figurines, such as clay selecting, mud making, mold making, polishing and so forth. At least a week is needed to complete one figurine. We also have special techniques passed down from our ancestors."
The figurines are made of clay mixed with pulp, and are painted after they have been shaped. The Fengxiang figurine colors are extremely bright, with intense contrasts. They are primarily scarlet, green and yellow with black outlines.
Fengxiang clay figurines often display motifs of ancient stone carvings, paintings, paper cuttings, and embroidery. Bright colors are painted on them to highlight the intricacies of the sculpting. The figures are colorful, and decorated with patterns that contain various meanings. For example, the color green represents longevity; red represents happiness throughout the year; pomegranates convey the wish for many sons and happiness; coins represent the wish for money, and peonies represent wishes for health and happiness.
Traditionally, local people send clay figurines to each other during the holidays, to be placed in their homes to ward off evil spirits, bring peace to the house, pray for children or seek blessings.
There are roughly 170 traditional varieties of figurines made in Fengxiang, among which the image of the tiger is unique. Two fish represent the eyebrows, three peppers make the nose, and there are other plant patterns. Surprisingly, craftsmen hundreds of years ago had never seen real tigers themselves, and created the figures based on their own vivid imaginations.
The clay figurines were not widely known by the outside world until recently. Some folklorists discovered the artistic handicrafts by chance and showed them off outside Shaanxi Province. In 2002, when Hu Xinmin's clay horse was selected as the image of the Chinese zodiac stamp of the year, people became acquainted with this ancient folk art. Groups of admirers started to flock to the village to see its unique beauty for themselves.
"The clay figurine is pretty and special. I'm so happy to have one, since most of my friends don't even get the chance to look at one."
"One of my Chinese friends gave it to me. It is really good."
As the Fengxiang clay figurine grows in popularity, the figurines' production has become an industry in the area and is now enjoying a stronger market demand. There are now more than 1,200 craftsmen in Liuying engaged in making clay figurines. The annual output is more than 400,000 pieces, with an income of nearly seven million yuan.
The increasing popularity of the figurines has also boosted young people's interest in learning about and passing on this folk art form.
In 2006, the Fengxiang clay figurine was listed as a Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage item. Craftsmen are working hard to improve their traditional techniques and more designs have been developed. Figures are being sold abroad in countries like the U.S., Germany and Japan. With the increasing number of visitors to the village and fans of the figurines, this unique folk art will hopefully continue to develop, growing both in popularity and prestige.
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