Fengxiang-cradle of clay-figurine

The craft of making painted clay-figurines of Fengxiang has a recorded history of more than 3,000 years.

According to archaeologists, the decorative designs of Fengxiang's figurines made in the Western Zhou Dynastywere different from those on bronzeware buried in the same period. The images of clay figurines typically included flowers, birds, fish, insects, as well as auspicious birds and beasts, reflecting cultural characteristics of ancient China.

The figurines are made of local clay, which was mixed with pulp and painted after it was shaped. The colors of Fengxiang figurines are extremely bright, and with intensive contrasts. With a black outline, they are primarily scarlet, green and yellow.

The figurines have a wide-range of subjects, including facial makeup, folklore, historical stories, rural life and others. Their bold and short shapes are widely exaggerated. The resonate with admirers, and are deeply loved by people at home and abroad.

In recent years, with the development of China's tourism, Fengxiang's clay - figurines have become one of the Shaanxi's important travel souvenirs.