Behind the Clay Figure Zhang carving out festive spirit

Editor's Note: Using a blend of words and visuals, this series explores unique communities and reveals the heart of China through food, architecture, craftsmanship, landscapes and traditions.

As the Year of the Horse approaches, a parade of auspicious horses is coming to life through the skill and dedication of Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage practitioners, vividly expressed across various traditional art forms. Each craft, while upholding its traditional roots, incorporates contemporary elements, showcasing the vitality of Tianjin's intangible cultural heritage in preservation, transmission, and innovative development.

At the Tianjin Clay Figure Zhang Studio, the Year of the Horse-themed works have been completed. The new series centers on the horse as a core symbol in Chinese culture, drawing inspiration from Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577) pottery, the "Eight Horses" stories in Mu Tianzi Zhuan (The Chronicles of King Mu), and works by Tang Dynasty (618-907) painter Han Gan, resulting in a variety of shapes and expressive styles.

Chen Yiqian, a master craftsman and a first-level art designer in the creative department of the studio, explained that Clay Figure Zhang is known for its realism. "On this realistic foundation, we incorporate elements of expressive artistry, aiming to capture both the physical form of each horse and the spirited energy of the Year of the Horse, conveying a message of perseverance and vitality," he said.

"Clay sculpture should be fun for young people, not something distant and untouchable," said Zhang Yu, the sixth-generation inheritor of Clay Figure Zhang. His playful "Money on Horseback" clay sculptures continue traditional techniques while appealing to contemporary youth aesthetics.

He has visited numerous primary and secondary schools across Tianjin, voluntarily teaching over 4,000 students and allowing them to experience the charm of traditional art through hands-on practice, thereby cultivating a more vibrant audience for the craft.

The efforts of Clay Figure Zhang are not an isolated case, but reflect the overall development of intangible cultural heritage in Tianjin. As a city with a profound historical and cultural foundation, Tianjin boasts 49 nationally recognized representative ICH projects and 357 at the municipal level.

With the Chinese New Year approaching, multiple ICH projects in Tianjin are embracing the Year of the Horse theme to enrich the festive atmosphere. Inheritors of Yangliuqing Woodblock New Year Paintings create horse-themed zodiac prints, conveying blessings for the new year; ICH paper-cutting practitioners depict galloping and flying horses to express festive wishes; and artisans of the Chen family's hand-painted ceramic craft have launched works such as "Good Fortune on Horseback" and "Dragon-Horse Spirit" cups, bringing renewed vitality to traditional crafts during the Spring Festival.