The people of Taiwan live in modern apartments, watch TV and play video games. They are also losing touch with their heritage. When the Taiwan Provincial Museum exhibited clay figurines from its collection during the Lunar New Year holidays, the all but forgotten folk art aroused great nostalgia. Viewers were carried back to the idyllic days of childhood by the innocent-looking clay babies and fat clay animals.
To satisfy people's hunger for this reminiscence of the past, Ho Cheng-kuang, publisher of a Taipei art magazine, flew to Japan both to collect Chinese clay figurines and to take a number of graphic pictures there. He published the pictures in a book with the intent of stirring a revival of the ancient art.
Clay figures hold a high place in Chinese legends. It is said that the yellow races of China derived from ancestors made of yellow clay during the initial creation of heaven and earth.
From the late Shang Dynasty (1766-1123 B.C.) to the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911), clay figurines were a part of every burial. Clay guardsmen, servants, singers, dancers and such animals as camels, horses, cattle and sheep served the deceased in the new life.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Buddhism throve in China. And the crafting of Buddhist images boosted the skills of folk artists in creating clay figurines. It was during the succeeding Sung Dynasty that clay figurines became bric-a-brac, to be displayed in most family homes.
Clay figurine art in the Sung Dynasty was closely related to people's aspirations for male heirs and happiness. Male clay babies were the most popular item. When the imperial court of Sung moved to South China during the invasion by the Kin people of the north, Hangchow became a center of the clay baby industry.
It was a custom for elderly women to pray at the temple for male babies on behalf of their newly-married daughters-in-law and sisters-in-law. Arrays of lovely clay babies were displayed on the altars. Each worshipper was allowed to take one home if she pledged to offer a gratuity after her prayer was answered.
Most clay-baby makers were illiterate and, therefore, did not sign their pieces and leave their names to posterity. They are remembered--if at all--as "clay-baby maker Chang," "clay-baby maker Wang" and so on. They depended only on their nimble fingers and their unadulterated dedication to "sell" each lovely figurine.
"Clay-baby maker Chang" was a famous figure in Peking a generation ago. He was so popular that foreign visitors to the city often included him in their itineraries. Once a foreign sculptor and his wife took an interpreter to visit him in an effort to probe the achievement of this folk artist. They talked happily. While they were talking, the Chinese artist--wearing a long gown which concealed his hands in wide sleeves--kept his fingers very active. After the guests finished their tea, the artist presented to his guests a newly-made figurine. The foreign sculptor was stunned, but his wife, sitting beside him, was overcome by wild laughter.
Production of clay figurines was not limited to Hangchow and Peking. The pieces can be found in every part of China, in the far countryside as well as in cities. During festivals, hawkers still carry clay figurines to sell to children. Some are replicas of legendary figures or treasured pets and are popular among adults as well as children.
Sometimes, the figurines are sold as an ensemble. One such group makes up a wedding procession. Other items such as donkey riders, cake hawkers etc. bring their possessor back to the warmth of olden days.
[Picture Caption]
Clay toys popular in Peking during the 1910s. 1. A wedding procession formed by more than 50 figures, each of which is about 7 cm in height. 2. Returning home by coach. 3. & 4. Marriages between old and young. 5. Part of a wedding procession.
Clay toys depicting daily life scenes. The one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
1. A clay horse made in Shantung. 2. A Chinese tiger. 3. Symbol of happiness, promotion and longevity popular in Shensi. 4 to 7. Characters in Cantonese opera.
1. An array of clay babies. 2. Breast-feeding in Kwangtung. 3. Breaking up the fighting geese. 4. A dragon boat of Kwangtung. 5. A motley sitting tiger made in Shensi.
Part of a wedding procession.
Returning home by coach.
Marriages between old and young.
Marriages between old and young.
Clay toys depicting daily life scenes.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
he one at the top is a rice cake vendor, common in North China. Another is a barber, who carries a wooden tool and an over-basin unit, common in the countryside.
A clay horse made in Shantung.
A Chinese tiger.
Symbol of happiness, promotion and longevity popular in Shensi.
Characters in Cantonese opera.
Characters in Cantonese opera.
Characters in Cantonese opera.
Characters in Cantonese opera.
An array of clay babies.
Breast-feeding in Kwangtung.
Breaking up the fighting geese.
A dragon boat of Kwangtung.
A motley sitting tiger made in Shensi.
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