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 Fengxiang-cradle of clay-figurine  

The craft of making painted clay-figurines of Fengxiang has a recorded history of more than 3,000 years.

According to archaeologists, the decorative designs of Fengxiang's figurines made in the Western Zhou Dynasty were different from those on bronzeware buried in the same period. The images of clay figurines typically included flowers, birds, fish, insects, as well as auspicious birds and beasts, reflecting cultural characteristics of ancient China.

The figurines are made of local clay, which was mixed with pulp and painted after it was shaped. The colors of Fengxiang figurines are extremely bright, and with intensive contrasts. With a black outline, they are primarily scarlet, green and yellow.

The figurines have a wide-range of subjects, including facial makeup, folklore, historical stories, rural life and others. Their bold and short shapes are widely exaggerated. The resonate with admirers, and are deeply loved by people at home and abroad.

In recent years, with the development of China's tourism, Fengxiang's clay - figurines have become one of the Shaanxi's important travel souvenirs.

 Clay Figurine Zhang and Huishan clay figurines

Chinese folk artists use simple and cheap materials to make small and delicate handicrafts, won great favor among folk people. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, painted clay figurines were very popular. The most famous were the Clay Figurine Zhang ( Niren Zhang) made in Tianjin and the Huishan clay figurines made in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.

 Clay Figurine Zhang

Clay Figurines Zhang was a kind of school of art in northern China. It was initiated by Zhang Mingshan in the late Qing Dynasty. Zhang Mingshan was born in a poor family in Tianjin. He learned from his father how to make clay figurines at a very young age. Zhang was clever, deft and full of imagination. He carefully observed people at different places, such as market fairs, theaters and so on. Then he would secretly make clay figurines of those he met and hide them inside his sleeves.