Traditional Chinese Crafts—Fengxiang Clay Sculpture and Mashao Facial Mask Exhibition

An exhibition titled "Traditional Chinese Crafts—Fengxiang Clay Sculpture and Mashao Facial Mask Exhibition" is being held at the Yindi Art Museum, allowing visitors to once again appreciate folk art from Shaanxi. Fengxiang clay sculpture, a traditional art form from Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province, is a national intangible cultural heritage. Fengxiang clay sculpture, known locally as "nihuo" (clay goods), originated in the Zhou and Qin dynasties, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and further developed in the Ming Dynasty. Through continuous exploration and innovation by folk artists after the Ming Dynasty, Fengxiang nihuo has become a folk art form integrating Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, and Southern cultures. The production of Fengxiang clay sculptures involves dozens of processes, including drafting, molding, coloring, and glazing. The sculptures are beautifully shaped, vivid, lifelike, and imbued with a rustic charm. Fengxiang clay sculptures are categorized into three main types: firstly, clay toys, mainly animal figures, often depicting the twelve zodiac animals; secondly, hanging pieces, including facial masks, tiger heads, ox heads, lion heads, qilin sending children, and the Eight Immortals crossing the sea; and thirdly, standing figures, primarily depicting characters from folk tales and historical stories. There are over 170 varieties of Fengxiang clay sculptures, ranging from half-person-high giant crouching tigers and tiger-head wall hangings to tiny lions and rabbits. On May 20, 2006, Fengxiang clay sculpture was listed in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Mashao facial masks are traditional Shaanxi handicrafts, a type of face mask used in Baoji Shehuo (a local folk performance). In rural Shaanxi, the custom of performing Shehuo continues during spring. Fengxiang Shehuo Mashao facial masks, or simply Mashao facial masks, are a newly developed folk handicraft based on the facial masks used in western Shaanxi Shehuo. They evolved from Chinese folk Shehuo facial masks. Locals paint images of characters from myths and legends onto wooden ladles (mashao), hence the name. Mashao facial masks are made of wood, easy to produce, and have been essential tools for generations of farmers. The painted designs on Mashao facial masks can be simple or complex. People hang them in halls and living rooms to ward off evil spirits, suppress demons, and express good wishes for blessings, good fortune, and prosperity. Therefore, Mashao facial masks are deeply loved and revered. Mashao facial masks are typically crafted from high-quality wood such as tung, willow, or peach. Folk artisans carve them by hand using specialized tools. The patterns are often taken from *Investiture of the Gods*, *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, folk tales, and local operas, depicting powerful and righteous characters. Based on the characters' appearances and personalities, the masks use exaggeration, stylized patterns, varied shapes, and contrasting colors to express the characters' loyalty, treachery, good, evil, beauty, and ugliness. They are a high-level summary of the characters' political stances, morals, and personalities, conveying praise and criticism, distinguishing good from evil, revealing temperament, and expressing love and hate. Their unique style, bold shapes, elegant lines, and strong colors give them a primitive and fresh feel, rich in folk charm.