The hairy monkey originated from

The hairy monkey originated in the Qing Dynasty.

This is a traditional mini art form. Artists use cicada shells and magnolia flower buds to make monkey-like statues and put them in various shapes. The hairy monkey is a traditional handicraft in old Beijing. The art of hairy monkeys perfectly combines the natural interest of monkeys with the creation of artists, creating a wonderful artistic realm.

Legend has it that in a Chinese medicine shop in the capital of Qing Dynasty, the waiter was scolded by the accountant, and he was very wronged. Suddenly, his heart moved, and he stuck a sharp-tongued accounting gentleman with cicada slough and other medicinal materials. Brothers say they are very similar. Later, the owner of the Chinese medicine shop saw the business opportunity and sold several kinds of Chinese medicines, such as cicada slough, magnolia flower, bletilla striata and Akebia, separately, called monkey material. It has gradually become a tradition for parents to buy monkeys for their children to play with.

Contemporary figures

In the early years of the Republic of China, there was a hairy monkey artist who set up a stall in Dongan market. Because his surname is Wang, people call him "Monkey King". There is always a group of people around his booth. A little boy named Cao was fascinated. At first glance, he spent most of the day reading, recording and spying, secretly learning the skills of the hairy monkey. The little boy became the heir to the hairy monkey craft. He is the hairy monkey artist Cao Jianyi.

Cao Jianyi, 1925, Manchu, the 19th generation grandson of Cao Xueqin's family. He not only inherited the traditional hairy monkey art, but also developed and opened up a new artistic realm, showing a new world and new content. He not only showed folk customs, but also created many satirical sketches that lashed ugliness and criticized the shortcomings of the times. It's a three-dimensional cartoon. It's really varied and interesting.