Tai'an craftsman celebrates Year of the Dragon with clay

[Video/Dazhong News]

At the foot of Mount Tai in Tai'an, Xuan Xudong, the fifth-generation inheritor of Mount Tai clay sculpting, makes dragon clay sculptures, doing his part to preserve the vibrant millennium-old dragon culture.

Mount Tai clay sculpting dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is a meticulous process involving sifting mountain stones and clay, filtering out sediment, kneading solid clay blocks, and sculpting patterns.

Xuan learned the art of clay sculpting from his father when he was a child. He said that the core techniques of Mount Tai clay sculpting include clay collection, shaping, and carving.

The clay used for sculpting comes from a mountain in Daolang town called Shenni Mountain, which is an offshoot of Mount Tai. When it rains, the rainwater washes out reddish-brown sand from the crevices of the mountain rocks. The tradition of collecting clay after rain has been passed down through generations in Xuan's family.

To create a good clay sculpture, the clay must first be shaped. It is first pounded with a stick, then kneaded vigorously. Sometimes, during the pounding process, the clay naturally takes shape. Then, clay must be added or removed according to the desired form, Xuan said.

By continuously shaping through molding, a rough form is created. Then the semifinished product must be left to sit for about a month. Then, based on the clay's moisture, further carving is done with a knife. The carving process is repeated four to five times, until the details come to life, Xuan added.