Development course of Wuchuan clay sculpture

During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor sent officials to participate in the beauty contest, and people complained bitterly about it. Therefore, people in Meilutou village took advantage of the Lantern Festival to fabricate a set of clay sculptures that vilified the emperor and queen. Shapes are: big eyes, big belly, big feet, big breasts, big ears, very ugly image. As a result, the government was angered and claimed to hack the whole village. Later, the author who made this clay sculpture had a brainwave and stood up and explained, "What's wrong with the emperor's eyes, his belly, his feet, his chest, his people's support and his ears?" ? "The snobbish officers and soldiers were speechless and had to give up. After the local officials left, the masses simply pushed down the clay sculptures and called them "mud-sending ghosts." It will become a custom in the future. Every year, if you are a "mud ghost" during the Lantern Festival, you will be given a "mud ghost". Since then, local people have been more interested in "making clay sculptures", "watching clay sculptures" and "evaluating clay sculptures" and have higher enthusiasm.

This kind of folk art, which is called "mud ghost" by local people, has a deep mass base because it is easy to obtain materials and has a strong meaning, and it can be rebuilt in three days after being cracked. More than 300 people in Meilong alone know how to make it. The theme of clay sculpture includes historical stories, fairy tales and folklore. Quite a few themes are close to life, with local characteristics and the flavor of the times, close to the pulse of the times, full of creativity and refreshing. In addition to the traditional theme, clay sculpture works have also enhanced many new contents. Such as Wuchuan champion Lin Zhaotang, Dog Six Ancestors, General Zhang Yan, anti-Japanese generals, anti-corruption, putting an end to gambling, singing and dancing, etc. , have a strong ideological and high artistic quality.