Clay Figurine Zhang(泥人张)

Clay Figurine Zhang

Clay Figurines Zhang is a school of clay figurine in Northern China, which was initiated by Zhang Mingshan in the late Qing Dynasty.

Zhang was born in a poor family in Tianjin city, who learned the skill of clay figurines from his father at a very young age. Zhang was clever, deft and full of imagination. He carefully observed people from different walks of life, so that he would make clay figurines of people he met vividly. Clay figurines created by Zhang include heroes and villains from Chinese folk stories, novels, and operas as well as scenes from daily life.

Zhang not only inherited the legacy of traditional skills but also incorporated skills from other art forms such as painting and wood engravings. He created more than 10,000 clay figurines during his whole life, and his unique handicrafts became famous both at home and abroad.

People liked his clay figurines very much and gave him the nickname of Clay Figurine Zhang.

“泥人张”是北方流传的一派民间彩塑，它创始于清代末年。“泥人张”的创始人叫张明山，生于天津，家境贫寒，从小跟父亲以捏泥人为业，养家糊口。

张明山心灵手巧，富于想象，时常在集市上观察各行各业的人，有时在戏院里看戏，他就偷偷地在袖口里捏制自己喜欢的角色。他捏制出来的泥人个个逼真酷似，一时传为佳话。

张明山继承传统的泥塑艺术，从绘画、戏曲、民间木版年画等姊妹艺术中吸收营养。经过数十年的辛勤努力，一生中创作了一万多件作品。他的艺术独具一格而蜚声四海，老百姓都喜爱他的作品，亲切地送给他一个昵称：泥人张。