Mianren (Shanghai Mianren Zhao)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Mianren (Shanghai Mianren Zhao)

Applicant: Shanghai Institute of Arts and crafts

Project No.: 828

Project No.: Ⅶ - 52

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Shanghai

Type: new item

Applicant: Shanghai Institute of Arts and crafts

Protection unit: Institute of Arts and crafts of Shanghai Arts and Crafts Co., Ltd

Brief introduction of Shanghai Noodle man (Zhao)

Applicant: Shanghai Institute of Arts and crafts

Dough figurine, also known as "dough figurine" and "jiangmi people", is a traditional plastic art with edible flour and glutinous rice flour as the main raw materials. It is popular all over the country and deeply loved by the people. Most of the dough figurines take animals and characters in myths and legends, historical stories and local operas as their subjects, and their basic shapes are divided into two types: the "signature type" and the "case type". The former is mostly food and play goods for children's entertainment, with simple shape and vivid shape; the latter is elegant display art, with exquisite workmanship and exquisite shape. It also needs to mix additives in the raw materials for anti cracking, anti insect and anti mildew treatment. Generally, dough figurines are made by kneading, rubbing, kneading, lifting and other techniques to shape the general shape. Then, bamboo knives are used to skillfully place, cut, carve, scratch, depict hands, feet, head, face, facial expression and other local details. Finally, hair accessories, dresses and related plug-ins are added to complete the work. The art of dough figurine mainly relies on the improvisation of the artists who walk through the streets. They have mastered the skillful shaping skills. They know the theme, modeling, color matching and other process procedures clearly, and can turn the dough into a high spirited artistic image in an instant. Dough figurine art, which is inherited and developed among the people, reposes the aesthetic feelings and life ideals of the general public, and provides important material materials for the study of Chinese folk history, customs and art.

Zhao skill of Shanghai dough figurine is an outstanding representative of Shanghai style dough figurines. It was created by Zhao Kuoming (1900-1980), who is known as "the king of dough figurines". It mainly spread in Shanghai, but gradually formed a wide influence beyond the corner of Shanghai. On the basis of inheriting the previous techniques, Zhao Kuoming summed up the "eight methods of hand pinching" and "eight methods of tools" of dough sculpture, which greatly enriched the expressiveness of dough sculpture art, especially strengthened the expression of the appearance of characters and the texture of objects. Shanghai Mianren Zhao's works are characterized by many characters, grand scenes, vivid portrayal, delicate expression depiction, rich image texture, light and elegant clothing decoration, reflecting the distinctive characteristics of Shanghai culture. Zhao Kuoming's creative efforts strengthened the elegant tendency of dough sculpture art, and made it develop from popular folk playthings to exquisite art reflecting modern urban aesthetic taste. Zhao Mianren's works are rich in themes, and his representative works "Er Jin Gong", "Guan Gong's night reading", "national unity" and "the great wall of friendship" have become models of dough sculpture art.

At present, the development of Shanghai style dough sculpture represented by Zhao is in trouble, and the aging of artists is very serious. In order to survive in the modern market environment, dough sculpture production often pursues quickness and simplicity, and the technology is sloppy and poor, which can not continue to maintain the artistic characteristics of dough figurine Zhao Jinggong. In the long run, this exquisite skill will lose its original charm and die out in silence. It has become an urgent task to protect and inherit the art of Shanghai Mianren Zhao, which is in urgent need of the joint efforts of relevant people.

Chinese PinYin : Mian Ren Shang Hai Mian Ren Zhao