According to a Chinese fairy tale, humans were created out of clay by a goddess. In the hands of the folk artists, this myth is repeated over and over as otherwise worthless clay is molded into fascinating sculptures through kneading, basking, coloring and baking.

The colors of Fengxiang figurines are extremely bright, and with intense contrasts.

Fengxiang: Cradle of Clay Sculptures

Still popular nowadays in rural areas of Fengxiang county, Shaanxi province, colorful clay sculptures are a traditional Fengxiang county folk art that dates back 3,000 years to the West Zhou Dynasty.

The figurines are made of local clay mixed with pulp and painted after being shaped. The colors of Fengxiang figurines are extremely bright, and with intense contrasts. They are primarily scarlet, green and yellow with black outlines.

The clay sculptures are quite colorful, decorated with patterns that contain many 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. Local villagers would make these sculptures in their spare time. They believed the colors and patterns of the clay could help bring good luck and keep away the bad.

Liuying Village, Fenxiang County

The top clay sculptures are all from Liuying village, in Fengxiang, Shaanxi province, a place with a 500-year history of making clay sculptures. It's a typical suburban area in the northern part of China and all the houses are made almost entirely of the local clays. It is said that in the late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) Zhu Yuanzhang stationed his troops there and most of his soldiers were from Jiangxi and could make clay sculptures. After settling in the area as farmers, they often made toys and presents in their spare time. As time passed by these became the Fenxiang clay sculptures of today. As tourism develops, this ancient flower of folk art is becoming more and more prosperous and it has become a popular Shaanxi tourist souvenir.

A Master of Chinese Folk Art: Hu Xinming

Leading Fengxiang county folk artist Hu Xinming was born into a family of clay sculptors. He had an intimate relationship with clay sculptures when he was young. He became famous when he took part in the international exhibition. "The Month of Shaanxi Province" in the US while in his 20s in 1985. In 2002 and 2003, his works "Peaceful Horse" and "Fortune Sheep" were adopted by the China Post and published as two of the Shu Xiang, (the 12 animals used to symbolize the 12 years of the Chinese zodiac). Also, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Hu a "master of Chinese folk art."

Tiger Face

It is the most representative work in Fengxiang clay sculpture, characterized by the unique ancient brushwork: abstract and exaggerative ways of expression, easy and free lines, and romantic and miraculous emblazonry. The pricking ears showing the power of the tiger, the heavy eyebrows and big eyes, the Chinese character "Wang" (King) clearly seen on the forehead, the coin on top of the head, the lotus flower and peony pattern on the face, the birds and flowers as decoration around the face. There are three red peppers hanging from the tip of the nose, brimming with zest and emitting a strong flavor of the native land. It serves as a symbol of luck for keeping away evil spirits and protecting the home.

Ox Head

The ox is a symbol of strength and belief. By using exaggerated and shape-changing techniques, the ox has been turned from a docile and kind image into a mighty and unyielding beast able to drive away evil and protect virtue. On the other hand, various decorations such as flowers, birds, monkey, mouse and golden cicadas have been added to different parts of the ox, showing a peaceful scene characterized by harmonious co-existence and mutual dependence between nature and mankind.