Clay Sculpture: A Traditional and Ancient Folk Art 泥塑：古老的传统民间艺术

泥塑，即用粘土塑制成各种形象的一种民间手工艺。在民间俗称“彩塑”、“泥玩”。泥塑艺术是我国一种古老常见的民间艺术。它以泥土为原料，以手工捏制成形。或素或彩，以人物、动物为主。
Clay sculptures, a kind of folk craft of sculpturing a variety of figures from clay, is also known as “painted sculpture” and “mud play”. Clay sculpture art is an ancient and common Chinese folk art form in which clay can be used as raw material and kneaded by hand to take form. They are plain in color or multi colored and mainly take the shape of human figures and animals.
泥塑简史
Brief History of Clay Sculpture
中国泥塑艺术可上溯到距今4千至1万年前的新石器时期。史前文化地下考古就有多处发现。浙江河姆渡文化遗址出土的陶猪、陶羊时间约为6千至7千年前左右；河南新郑裴李岗文化遗址出土的古陶井及泥猪、泥羊头时间约为7千年前。可以确认是人类早期手工捏制的艺术品。
Chinese clay sculpture art can be traced back to the Neolithic period – 4,000 to 10,000 years ago. There have been many archaeological findings of protoculture: the ceramic pig and ceramic sheep unearthed from the Hemudu Cultural Relics in Zhejiang date back about 6,000 or 7,000 years. The ancient ceramic well, clay pig and clay sheep head sculptures unearthed from Peiligang Cultural Relics in Xinzheng, Henan date back 7,000 years. These artifacts have been verified to be works of art kneaded by early human hands.

自新石器时代之后，中国泥塑艺术一直没有间断，发展到汉代已成为重要的艺术品种。考古工作者从两汉墓葬中发掘了大量的文物，其中有为数众多的陶俑、陶兽、陶马车、陶船等等。其中有手捏的，也有模制的。汉代先民认为亡灵如人生在世，同样有物质生活的需求。因此丧葬习俗中需要大量的陪葬品，这在客观上为泥塑的发展和演变起了推动作用。
Since the end of the New Stone Age, Chinese clay sculpture art production has been uninterrupted. In the Han Dynasty, it became an important art form. Archaeologists have excavated a large amount of cultural relics from the tombs of two Han Dynasties. The number of pottery figurines, pottery animal, pottery carriages and pottery ships etc. found has been extensive. Some examples were kneaded by hand and some were mold produced. The ancients of the Han Dynasty believed that people in the afterlife also led the lives of living people and also bore the demands of material life. A large number of funeral objects were required by mortuary customs, objectively promoting the development and evolution of clay sculpture.
两汉以后，随着道教的兴起和佛教的传入，以及多神化的奉祀活动，社会上的道观、佛寺、庙堂兴起，直接促进了泥塑偶像的需求和泥塑艺术的发展。到了唐代，泥塑艺术达到了顶峰。被誉为雕塑圣手的杨惠之就是唐代杰出的代表。他与吴道子同师张僧繇，道子学成，惠之不甘落后，毅然焚毁笔砚，奋发专攻塑，终成名家。为当世人称赞：“道子画，惠之塑，夺得僧繇神笔路”。
After the two Han Dynasties, with the rise of Taoism and the introduction of Buddhism as well as the enshrinement activities of polytheism, Taoist temples, Buddhist temples and temples across society sprang up, directly promoting the demand of clay Buddha sculptures and for the development of clay sculpture. In the Tang Dynasty, clay sculptures were at their peak. Yang Huizhi, was honored as a divine sculptor was an outstanding representative during the Tang Dynasty. He and Wu Daozi both learnt with Zhang Sengyao. Daozi finished his study and Huizhi was unwilling to lag behind. He resolutely burnt his writing brushes and ink stones and worked hard to learn sculpture and finally he became a famous master who was praised by the common people: “Daozi’s painting and Huizhi’s sculpture have inherited the essence of Sengyao”.

泥塑艺术发展到宋代，不但宗教题材的大型佛像继续繁荣，小型泥塑玩具也发展起来。有许多人专门从事泥人制作，作为商品出售。北宋时东京著名的泥玩具“磨喝乐”在七月七日前后出售，不仅平民百姓买回去“乞巧”，达官贵人也要在七夕期间买回去供奉玩耍。
When the clay sculpture art developed to the Song Dynasty, the large figure of Buddha continued to be prevalent and small clay toy sculptures were also developed. Many people were specially engaged in the production of clay figurines and sold them as commodity. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the famous clay toy “Grinding Drinking Music” from Dongjing (the capital of Northern Song Dynasty) was on sale around the 7th date of the 7th lunar month. Common people bought it as a “begging opportunity”. In addition, the high officials and noble lords also bought it for shrines and to worship as well as for play during the seventh evening of the seventh moon.
元代之后，历经明、清、民国，泥塑艺术品在社会上仍然流传不衰，尤其是小型泥塑，既可观赏陈设，又可让儿童玩耍。几乎全国各地都有生产，其中著名的产地有无锡惠山、天津“泥人张”、陕西风翔、河北白沟、山东高密、河南浚县、淮阳以及北京。
After the Yuan Dynasty, clay sculpture works of art continued their unabated spread across society throughout the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty and the period of the Republic of China, especially small clay sculptures which can be appreciated, displayed and be played with by children. The sculptures were produced all over the country and famous production areas include Huishan, Wuxi, Tianjin (Clay Figure Zhang), Fengxiang, Shanxi, Baigou, Hebei, Gaomi, Shandong, Junxian, Henan, Huaiyang and Beijing.

泥塑魅力
The Charm of Clay Sculpture
泥塑艺术是中华民间艺术的一种，民间艺人用天然的或廉价的材料，能够作出精美小巧的工艺品，博得民众的喜爱。虽然泥塑并非以科技含量而论，但它确实在人们的生活中增加了新的亮点。朴实、直观、真实和更加的“零距离”。在珍藏时间上也极具挑战性，而且还具有收藏价值。就是说每件作品均是手工制做，皆为孤品，世界上独一无二的。不存在仿造、复制、盗版等被侵权现象的发生，它更不同于油画、剪纸、浮雕等其他艺术的表现形式。泥塑艺术具有强烈的视觉冲击效果，欣赏角度也极为的丰富和多样化，更能贴近于人们的生活。在高科技迅猛发展的今天，是人们追求其返璞归真的具体写照，同时也是当今人们追求时尚、个性的一种体现。中国非常重视非物质文化遗产的保护，2006年5月20日，泥塑经国务院批准列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
Clay sculpture art is a kind of Chinese folk art. The folk artisans use natural or cheap materials but can make small and exquisite artifacts, gaining popularity with common people. Though clay sculptures are not technologically involved, they bring highlights to people’s lives by means of simplicity, direct-vision, authenticity and hands on characteristics. In terms of collection times, clay sculpture collections are very challenging and collections are valued. Each work is made by hand and is unique and is artistically untainted by copies, reproductions or counterfeits etc. Different from, other forms of art such as paintings, paper cuttings and embossment etc., clay sculpture art has a strong visual impact with appreciation from varying angles adding richness and diversity, more closely resembling life. Today, with high technology developing rapidly, reflection upon this art form allows people to return to an original simplicity and clay sculptures allow for a manifestation of fashion and individuality. China attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20th, 2006, upon the approval of the State Council, clay sculpture was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.