The origin and production process of the clay tiger

The mud tiger originated in the early years of the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, and is an ancient folk art existing in China, with a unique process of craftsmanship and artistic characteristics. The waist of the mud tiger is disconnected and then connected with cowhide, and after squeezing the head and tail, the mud tiger will make a loud sound, so it is also called mud calling tiger.

Putting the selected clay in the mold. "The seemingly simple mud tiger, from the beginning of digging to the final product, needs more than ten procedures to be made, including selecting mud, making molds, knocking billets, repairing billets, making whistles, applying powder, coloring, and finished products. Among them, the selection of clay is the first and the most crucial step to make a good clay tiger. This mud is taken from the yellow clay about one meter below the surface of Nie Jia Zhuang, the mud is fine, no sand and gravel, pinch and put it in the sun, no cracks.

The pinched clay tiger is drying. Making the base embryo, making the whistle and coloring are the three major steps in the production of clay tigers, which seems to be simple, but there are a lot of lessons to be learned. The whistle is a very distinctive feature of Gaomi's clay tigers among the nation's clay sculptures. "When chipping reed poles, it takes skill to master the slope of the cut as well as the thickness and hardness of the paper used to make the whistles.

In coloring the clay tiger. Based on traditional handmade production, he has created clay sculptures with the themes of 12 Chinese zodiac works, the three sages of Gaomi, and socialist core values, which has enriched the variety of works, expanded the popularity of clay sculptures, and strengthened people's recognition of traditional cultural innovations.

At the same time, the establishment of a professional cooperative of clay sculpture, driving more old artists in the village to revive the old craft of clay sculpture, and play a leading role in the revitalization of the countryside.