Clay Sculpture
01 · Historical Records
Xun County was known in ancient times as Liyang. At the end of the Sui dynasty, peasant rebel forces and the Sui army fought over the Liyang Granary; Yang Yi, a general under Li Mi, leader of the Wagang Army, stationed troops here, giving the village its name, Yangyi Tun. According to the account of this campaign in the Zizhi Tongjian, some soldiers in the army molded figures of men and horses from local clay to commemorate the officers, men, and war horses who had fallen in battle. After the troops were settled on the spot, the craft spread among the garrison troops and settlers, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties it had become a sideline for Yangyi Tun of Liyang Town during the agricultural off-season.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Xun County lies in the north of Henan Province and is administered by Hebi City. According to the Zizhi Tongjian, at the end of the Sui dynasty peasant rebel forces and the Sui army fought over the Liyang Granary (Xun County was then called Liyang); a general named Yang Yi under Li Mi, leader of the Wagang Army, stationed troops here, giving the village the name Yangyi Tun. Later, some of the army's personnel were settled on the spot, and the craft was passed down. Xun County clay figurines are small in size: the largest are less than 20 cm across and the smallest only 4 to 5 cm. Because two small holes at the tail produce a 'gugu' sound when blown, they are called 'mud gugu' (clay gugu). Yangyi Tun of Liyang Town is the main production center of the mud gugu. The basic content of Xun County mud gugu falls into three main categories—figures, animals, and birds—comprising more than one hundred varieties. The tools are very simple, mainly bamboo tubes and bamboo sticks used for shaping. With these implements the maker mixes the local yellow clay with water, pounds it, and molds it into the work through such process steps; rosin is then applied (now replaced by ink), along with imported mineral colors (now replaced by gouache), painting the modeled body with a self-made hemp brush (now replaced by a writing brush). Most pieces take black as the ground color, and patterns are then painted on it in comparatively bright red, yellow, blue, and green, forming a strong contrast with the black ground. A coat of varnish is applied over the painting, and the piece is fired in a small brick kiln about one meter in height and width. Mud gugu works mainly include historical figures, opera characters, the twelve zodiac animals, small animals, birds, and horse riders. Xun County mud gugu has a long history and strong folk character; its forms are of classic simplicity and distinctive exaggeration, and it is highly regarded by the general public and experts alike. Folklorists have called it a living fossil of history.
Archival Records of Process Steps
The tools are very simple, mainly bamboo tubes and bamboo sticks used for shaping. With these implements the maker mixes the local yellow clay with water, pounds it, and molds it into the work through such process steps; rosin is then applied (now replaced by ink), along with imported mineral colors (now replaced by gouache), painting the modeled body with a self-made hemp brush (now replaced by a writing brush). Most pieces take black as the ground color, and patterns are then painted on it in comparatively bright red, yellow, blue, and green, forming a strong contrast with the black ground. A coat of varnish is applied over the painting, and the piece is fired in a small brick kiln about one meter in height and width.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
At the time, some soldiers in the army knew how to mold clay figures. To commemorate the officers, men, and war horses who had fallen on the battlefield, they molded figures of men and horses from local clay.
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04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The main inheritors today include Wang Xuefeng, Wang Antian, and Song Xuehai, but young people today are unwilling to continue learning the craft; the traditional craft lacks successors and is gradually being lost, so urgent rescue is needed. Wang Xuefeng (recorded in the official file of the associated inheritor): Male, Han ethnicity, born in 1954, from Hebi, Henan. By form, Xun County mud gugu divides into three main categories—figures, animals, and birds—with several hundred varieties. Wang Xuefeng's works are vivid in form, delicate in technique, gorgeous in color, and complete in both form and spirit; they follow directly in the line of his father's work and preserve the distinctive charm of Xun County clay toys. His works are small and distinctive, sturdy, and easy to carry. Representative works include 'The Unicorn', 'Lion Rolling an Embroidered Ball', and 'Big Afu'. Representative inheritor of Clay Figurine (Xun County Mud Gugu), a first-batch national-level intangible cultural heritage item.
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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