Clay Sculpture
01 · Historical Records
The Tianjin Clay Figure Zhang painted clay sculpture is a folk art much loved by the common people; founded during the Daoguang reign of the Qing dynasty, it has been transmitted and developed over 180 years to the present day. Zhang Mingshan was the founder of the Clay Figure Zhang art; at the age of eighteen he earned the artistic name 'Clay Figure Zhang' and ran a family clay-sculpture workshop, the Su Gu Zhai. In 1915, Zhang Mingshan's painted clay sculpture 'Weaving Woman' won first prize at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, and Zhang Yuting's work won an honorary award at the same exposition. Through the transmission of four generations — Zhang Yuting, Zhang Jingfu, Zhang Jingxi, Zhang Jinghu and Zhang Ming — the art became the representative of clay sculpture in northern China. In the early 1960s, the Clay Figure Zhang painted-clay studio twice went to Beijing to hold special exhibitions of its outstanding works; Premier Zhou Enlai dispatched Deng Yingchao and Chen Yi to preside over the opening ceremonies of the exhibitions held at the National Art Museum of China.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Of him it was said: 'his skill is profound, and an image takes shape at the touch of his hand'. Zhang Ming, the fourth-generation inheritor, worked with tireless dedication for more than twenty years, running the studio and its teaching work and passing on his skills. From then on, the Clay Figure Zhang painted-clay art moved out of the family workshop and into society at large. Guo Moruo once inscribed the words: "Yesterday only one family made figures; today its pupils fill the whole land." Artistically, Clay Figure Zhang painted clay sculpture inherits the fine traditions of ancient Chinese clay sculpture while making developments and innovations of its own. Zhang Mingshan and his sons made an important contribution to bringing Chinese clay sculpture from Buddhist halls and shrines into ordinary people's homes; they can rightly be called giants of modern Chinese clay sculpture.
Zhang Mingshan and Suguzhai
Founded in the Daoguang reign, the workshop Suguzhai was run by Zhang Mingshan, nicknamed Clay Figurine Zhang at eighteen, and four generations after him.
First prize at the Panama-Pacific exposition
In 1915 Zhang Mingshan's painted clay The Weaver won first prize at the Panama-Pacific exposition and Zhang Yuting took an honourable mention.
Shaping by hand without a mould
Clay Figurine Zhang shapes directly by hand without moulds; the fourth-generation Zhang Ming carried the art from family workshop to public teaching.
Guo Moruo's inscription
Guo Moruo inscribed a couplet noting that the family craft of shaping figures had become a school with pupils everywhere.
The Beijing exhibitions of the 1960s
In the early 1960s the studio twice exhibited in Beijing, the opening at the National Art Museum being presided over by Deng Yingchao and Chen Yi.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Clay Figure Zhang art takes Tianjin as its birthplace and principal home of transmission, handed from father to son among six generations of Zhang-family artists: Zhang Mingshan founded the art, and Zhang Yuting, Zhang Jingfu, Zhang Jingxi, Zhang Jinghu and Zhang Ming carried it on in succession. The Su Gu Zhai workshop and the Clay Figure Zhang painted-clay studio formed two successive centers of transmission. After the 1950s the skill moved from the family workshop to society at large; the third-generation Zhang Jinghu was appointed to teach at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and then the Central Academy of Arts and Design, established the Clay Figure Zhang painted-clay studio in Tianjin and recruited five cohorts of students, forming a painted-clay force in both Beijing and Tianjin.
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04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
After 1949 the people's government adopted policies of protection, support and development for the Clay Figure Zhang painted-clay art, placing several generations of Zhang-family artists in posts in literary and artistic creation, teaching and other departments; the second-generation inheritor Zhang Yuting was appointed director of the Tianjin Municipal Research Institute of Culture and History. At the same time, folk painted-clay art entered the universities: the third-generation inheritor Zhang Jinghu was appointed to teach at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and then the Central Academy of Arts and Design, established the Clay Figure Zhang painted-clay studio in Tianjin, and recruited five cohorts of students in succession, training a large number of specialized talents in painted clay sculpture for the country.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Yu Xianglian 01-0108
- Wang Nanxian 01-0109
- Hu Shen 01-0110
- Wang Xuefeng 01-0111
- Wu Yucheng 03-1251
- Wu Guangrang 03-1252
- Xu Xingguo 03-1253
- Yang Qihe 03-1254
- Nie Xiwei 04-1791
- Shuangyan 05-2622
- Zhu Wenqian 05-2623
- Xu Shuzhang 05-2624
- Wu Weiqing 05-2625
- Wang Dengshu 05-2626
- Hu Xinming 05-2627
- Yang Jianian 05-2628
- Liu Chengyin
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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