The clay figurines of Tiger Hill, irresistible to Baochai, are one of the four great clay sculptures of China!

Suzhou clay sculpture, also known as Tiger Hill clay figurine, is ranked alongside Chaozhou floating clay sculpture, Tianjin Clay Figure Zhang, and Wuxi Huishan clay figurine as one of the four great clay sculptures of China. Tiger Hill clay figurines, which flourished during the Song and Yuan dynasties, are acclaimed as the 'number one in colored clay sculpture' in the world and are now listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. The hallmark of the artistic pinnacle of Tiger Hill clay figurines is the true-to-life sculpting and vivid portrayal. The special skill in the Tiger Hill clay figurine craftsmanship is to sculpt true likenesses with fine clay, which made Baochai from 'Dream of the Red Chamber' deeply enamored. The true likeness of Gu Yanwu is the earliest discovered Tiger Hill clay figurine that is sculpted true-to-life, and it is almost entirely made of clay. During the Qing Dynasty, the wealthy young men of Suzhou were keen on bird fighting, and clay figurines could even replace gold, silver, and jewels as betting stakes. The true sculpting craftsmanship of Suzhou is akin to 3D printing technology for human modeling, which originated from wooden carved deities with movable limbs, interchangeable clothes, and adjustable postures, and during temple fairs, they could even be carried through the streets in sedans. The clay figurine heads are known as 'falling knee joints' because the head and limbs can be rotated. The clay figurines of opera characters, also known as 'hand-pinched opera characters,' only have the head and limbs made of clay, with particularly exquisite silk clothing. The sale of clay heads is called 'Tiger Hill heads,' which are mass-produced. Others specialize in making silk bodies, creating silk figurines. Generations of sculptors have emerged, with Yang Hui of the Tang Dynasty honored as the 'Sculpture Saint.' During the Song Dynasty, Yuan Yuchang, Bao Renzu, and Sun Rong; during the Ming Dynasty, Wang Zhulin; all made a name for themselves. During the Qianlong period, Xiang Tiancheng, Huang Shuyuan, and Tang Qinya; during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, Xiang Chunjiang and Lu Qiyuan; and during the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods, Xiang Jimei and Xiang Qinfang were all famous clay sculptors.