Cheng Jianzhong: inheritor of Huishan Clay Figurines

Cheng Jianzhong, a 58-year-old craftsman in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, dyes a Huishan clay figurine at his shop. The Huishan clay figurine, a local specialty in Wuxi, was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. It is characterized by unique modeling, rich themes, bright colors and distinctive local flavor. [Photo/Fang Luofan chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuxi, a city in Eastern China's Jiangsu province, is known as the "home of clay figurines in China", a result of its hundreds of years of working with Huishan clay. The city is now home to dozens of craftsmen making a living with clay figurines.

Cheng Jianzhong, a 58-year-old craftsman, has been one such worker for more than four decades.

Cheng started learning the skills from his father, Cheng Genbao, a master of making clay figurines, when he was 17 years old.

At first, he only wanted to make a living. But, after years of work, he gradually realized the importance of the inheritance and preservation of the intangible cultural heritage.

According to Cheng, Huishan clay figurines, which were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, are characterized by unique modeling, rich themes, bright colors and distinctive local flavor.

Their development is inseparable from Wuxi's geographical conditions. About one meter under the ground at the foot of the northeastern slope of Huishan Mountain, there is a soft, delicate black clay that is quite suitable for kneading. This local clay is just what the craftsmen need to create the smooth, colorful and vivid figurines.

Huishan clay figurines can be divided into two kinds. One is traditional clay figures, and the other is more basic plaster products.

Da A Fu, a representative of Huishan clay figurines, uses the image of a lovable child to express a hard-working spirit, kindness, happiness and helpful personality. [Photo/Jiang Yingyi chinadaily.com.cn]

A representative of Huishan clay figurines is "Da A Fu", which uses the image of a lovable child and represents a hard-working spirit, kindness, happiness and a helpful personality.

With delicate design, vivid appearance and bright colors, they have proved highly popular with visitors to Wuxi.

However, at present, their market is declining, said Cheng.

The Huishan clay figurine had its golden time in the 1950s. In those days, many celebrities chose to visit the Huishan clay figurine factory during their visit to Wuxi. The factory once had more than 800 craftsmen. But now, there are only 20 to 30, of whom fewer than 10 might be considered excellent at their craft, Cheng said.

Cheng is concerned about the future of the art, because fewer and fewer people want to learn the techniques.