1. The term "colourful" is often associated with Chinese clay figures, which are a product of the country's civil tradition of carving crafts. These figures are created by mixing earth with some cotton fibers, then kneading the mixture into various shapes, gradually drying them in the shade, and finally painting them with colorful decorations.
2. The origins of clay figure art lie in various uses such as burying idols, worshipping Buddha figures, and appreciating and enjoying civil customs, which have been key factors in the development of Chinese clay figure art.
3. During the Tang and Song dynasties, clay figure art reached a peak with examples like the sweet-faced Mogao Caves Bodhisattvas and the original clay maid-in-waiting figures from the West Peak of the Jin Dynasty.
4. By the Qing Dynasty, there were two prominent schools of clay figure art: the "Tianjin Clay Figure Piece" in the north and the "Tin Mountain Clay Doll" in the south. The Tianjin style, characterized by Zhang Zhenglu and Zhang Zhaorong, was known for its realistic portrayal of the nobility, while the southern style, typified by Sun Zhangying, was renowned for its contributions to Chinese colorful art.
5. Clay figures can be further categorized into "mud playthings" for children, with "Great Blessing" being a notable example, and "dramatic clay figures" for stage plays, which require more careful depiction and have a distinctive style from the Jiangnan region.
6. Modern entertainers like Wang Zong, with their detailed facial hair and clear expressions, have also been captured in clay. Additionally, other regions such as West Lake in Hangzhou, the North Canal in Beijing, and Tiger Spring in Suzhou have their own locally important clay figure traditions.
