Traditional craft captivates taste of modern audiences

Dough figurine of Sun Wukong a stunning attraction at Taiyuan carnival

A dough figurine of Sun Wukong handcrafted by Zhao Rui. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

The soaring global popularity of the Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong has inspired a sculptor to create a traditional dough figurine of its main character.

Handcrafted by Zhao Rui, the detailed and colorful figurine of Sun Wukong from the classic novel Journey to the West has captivated visitors during the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Wheaten Food Carnival in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. The festival runs until Sept 8.

Zhao, a 35-year-old resident of Wanrong county in Shanxi, hails from a family deeply rooted in the art of dough sculpture and is a sixth-generation inheritor of the Wanrong dough sculpture tradition, which can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

It took Zhao about 16 hours to knead, roll and shape the 50-centimeter-tall figure. He told China Daily it was a challenge to capture the character's expressions and the details in his costume.

"The game, featuring 27 historical sites in Shanxi, has filled me, a native of Shanxi, with pride and satisfaction," he said. "Through the medium of dough sculpture, I aim to cater to the younger generation's love for animation and gaming, and thereby contribute to the cultural and tourism development of the province."

His exquisite creation has been well-received by attendees during the carnival.

"The craftsmanship is exquisite, from the armor to the facial expressions, exuding a sense of grandeur," one visitor remarked.

Zhao Rui displays his dough sculpting skills during the ongoing China Intangible Cultural Heritage Wheaten Food Carnival in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

Zhao, who graduated from Beijing Humanities Research Institute with a degree in art and design in 2012, chose to return to Wanrong to carry forward his family's craft.

In the beginning, he set up a stall in Wanrong where he showcased and sold dough figurines portraying a variety of cartoon characters, targeting children as his initial clientele. Gradually, he discovered a demand for lifelike dough figurines among adults, and so expanded his market reach.

Over the course of more than a decade, he honed his skills, learning from seasoned dough sculptors and pastry chefs in Beijing, Tianjin, Taiyuan and Xi'an in Shaanxi province. Today his expertise has garnered wide recognition.

"As demand surged, people started commissioning me to create personalized renditions of their beloved characters, such as some movie stars," he said.

Through the years, he kept exploring superior materials and ingredients to enhance the durability and longevity of his figurines.

His dedication to preserving and innovating traditional craftsmanship has not gone unnoticed. His mother, a fifth-generation inheritor of Wanrong dough sculpture, is proud of her son's achievements, noting his contributions to propelling the craft onto the international stage.

Zhao's dough figurine of Sun Wukong has attracted many fans during the festival. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

In 2013, Zhao opened a dough figurine shop on e-commerce platform Taobao, and has showcased his artistry in countries such as Malaysia, Morocco and Spain, receiving acclaim for introducing Chinese intangible cultural heritage to foreign audiences.

In 2014, he launched a summer training course to teach children the traditional craft in Yuncheng city, Shanxi, and has also established a Wanrong dough sculpture research center to train apprentices.

Zhao's dough sculpture workshop has undergone remarkable growth, transitioning from a modest 8 square meters to a sprawling space spanning 900 sq m. With an annual sales volume of 2 million yuan ($280,000), his business has directly and indirectly provided employment opportunities for over 400 individuals.

"People's warm reception to my Sun Wukong figurine has bolstered my confidence in sharing the traditional art with a broader audience," he said. "Through my hard work and innovation, I hope to better pass down the old tradition to future generations."

Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn