Clay sculpture (Huishan clay figurine), a traditional art in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. Huishan clay figurine is a kind of colored clay figurine, which is produced in Huibei, Wuxi. Founded in the Ming Dynasty and developed in the Qing Dynasty, it has a history of more than 400 years. Huishan clay figurines are divided into coarse goods and fine goods. Their shapes are simple and full, their lines are smooth and bright, their colors are bright and dazzling, and their ideas are ingenious and meticulous. Most of their works are children's toys and Chen Pin, among which the representative works are Hand-held Drama and Dafu.
On May 20th, 2006, clay sculpture (Huishan clay figurine) was approved by the State Council, People's Republic of China (PRC) to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage, and the heritage number was VII-47.
When the artist is modeling, in order to facilitate demoulding, the work becomes round and muddy, and the block surface transitions evenly, and the outline of the work is expressed with high relief. This can not only adapt to the production of printing blanks, but also ensure the smooth start of painting. Many Huishan clay figurines have flat arcs on the back without any shapes. Therefore, the shape is simple and exaggerated, with a big head and a short body, a square face, a square nose and a square mouth, which has rich, simple, steady and strong artistic characteristics.
Historical origin of Huishan clay figurines
The production of Wuxi Huishan clay figurines began in the late Ming Dynasty, and there are descriptions of Huishan people selling clay figurines in the late Ming Dynasty in ancient and modern book collections. In the early Huishan clay figurines, there were gods, buddhas, human figures and various animals. The former are mostly traditional gods with auspicious folk customs, which are mostly used for sacrifice; As a kind of children's toy, the latter is also called "playing with goods". Because it is printed with a mold, the color is bright, rough and slightly exaggerated. This kind of clay figurine, also called coarse goods, is mainly sold to children and farmers between urban and rural areas.
From the middle Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, Kunqu Opera was popular in Wuxi. During the first and middle period of Qing Dynasty, Huiban and Jingban often performed in Wuxi. At the same time, the folk "Caotai Class" also frequently staged local operas during the slack season. However, during the incense period, silkworm season, temple fairs and ancestral halls, various performances are more active.
Huishan is located in the urban-rural fringe. Since ancient times, there have been many temples and ancestral halls, and the larger temples and ancestral halls have performance stages to reward gods or worship ancestors. Drama performance provides an opportunity for Huishan folk artists engaged in clay figurine production to watch. As a result, in the early products of clay figurines, there appeared a "small play" with a height not exceeding 10 cm, which was made by a single mold. Because the clay figurine is inserted on the clay board, it is called "small board play"
The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Clay Sculpture (Huishan Clay Fighter).