Introduction of Huishan Mudman

Wuxi Huishan Mudman, a specialty of Huishan Ancient Town, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China National Geographical Indication Product.

Wuxi Huishan clay figures, located on the banks of the Grand Canal of China, are said to have a history of 400 years. In the late Ming Dynasty, Zhang Dai, a writer, wrote in Taoan Mengyi, Volume 7, Yugong Valley, that clay figures were sold in stores. Qing dynasty qianlong south patrol, huishan famous artist wang chunlin make mud child several plates into the offering, got qianlong emperor's praise (see "qing taolu class notes").

It can be seen that, before the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Huishan clay figure has a fairly high level of skill, and famous for a while. It is said that during the heyday of Huishan mudman, there were more than 40 workshops. There were more than 30 famous artists, including Wang Chunlin, Zhou Ahsheng, Ding Ajin, Chen Xingfang, Wang Xikang and so on.

After the fall every year, there are six to seven hundred cargo ships, thousands of people from the north of Jiangsu Province to Huishan to purchase clay figures, some high-grade clay figures with the Wuxi business silk, rice and noodles from all over the businessmen as a gift shipped to faraway places. Huishan mud people thus exported to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and other provinces in the vast rural townships, a considerable part of the flow into Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hankou and other big cities.

Technical characteristics

Unique Huishan black mud to a certain extent determines the choice of production processes and technical conditions, affecting the varieties and quality of mud people, affecting the formation of the style, but also is one of the basic material conditions for the longevity of Huishan mud people.

Early Huishan residents make mudman is a family side business, in the spare time to use this clay fabrication of some small flowers, small Nui, small Ruyi, small birthday, small Buddha, stacked Luohan, mud Afu, as well as chickens, dogs, geese, and other small beasts.

Huishan clay production method in addition to the face with a single piece of mold printing, the rest of the body, limbs are pinching out, and later after rubbing, kneading, picking, kneading, printing, patting, clipping, wrapping, pressing, sticking, inlaying, paddling, boards, inserting silk, pushing, wiping, paste, carve out the clothing, wearing, hair, headdress and so on, through the coloring, opening, waxing, inserting the whiskers, such as the Alluan process to create a variety of images.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Wuxi Huishan Mudman