Clay sculpture is the most simple handicraft of the working people in ancient China, and clay sculpture art is an ancient and common folk art in chinese folk tradition. Using the simplest materials, sculpture out a variety of artworks. The characteristics of Huarui clay sculpture are a wide range of themes, concise and simple techniques, vivid and lively shapes, and rich in strong local charm. Zhang Yanqi, who is known as the "clay man Zhang" of the Tianzhu Plateau because he is good at clay sculpture, is the representative figure of Huarui clay sculpture.
Zhang Yanqi, the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Tianzhu "Zhang's Clay Sculpture", was born in 1960, Tibetan, a farmer in Nanshan Village, Huazang Temple Town, Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, and a member of the Tianzhu County Elderly Calligraphers and Painters Association. In 2010, Tianzhu "Zhang's Clay Sculpture" was selected into the second batch of intangible cultural heritage list of Tianzhu County, and in 2016, it was selected into the list of intangible cultural heritage of Wuwei City. In 2007, his clay sculpture "Snow Boat" was selected for the exhibition of folk arts and crafts works in the second Lily Award of Gansu Province, and received an invitation from the Dunhuang World Expo to exhibit his clay sculpture works; in 2019, he won the honorary title of "Excellent Artist"; in 2021, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center of Tianzhu County Cultural Center recommended Zhang Yanqi to participate in the training of the "Three Districts" Talent Support Program in Gansu Province, and was awarded the honorary title of "Huarui Famous Craftsman" by the county party committee and county government.
Tianzhu "Zhang's clay sculpture" technique began in Wuwei, and was originally a clay sculpture technique that was perfected by Zhang's own system when making clay sculpture building components during the restoration of ancient buildings in Wuwei, Tianzhu and Yongdeng. The first generation is masons and traditional ancient building repair craftsmen, the first generation is the founding, only with the traditional craftsmanship to make clay buildings and ancient temples and temple building components need to be shaped as the beginning; the second generation of people on the basis of their father's inheritance to extend, the pursuit of artistic sublimation, the types of clay sculpture themes can be expanded; the third generation of Zhang Yanqi generation, its skills are more exquisite, the theme of sculpture includes figures, animals, flowers, scenes, etc. Each piece is not only exquisite but also unique.
A person, a pair of mud hands, a lifelong love, for the elderly Zhang Yanqi, clay sculpture art is not just a hobby, but to find life from the most ordinary soil. The elderly Zhang Yanqi has also made great contributions to the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage in our county.
Source: Tianzhu Cultural Travel
【Source: Tianjin Jizhou District Culture and Tourism Bureau】