Pinching, a traditional Chinese folk art, is widely spread throughout the country and is particularly beloved by children. It involves using raw materials, glutinous rice powder, flour, and various colorants to create manually shaped figures, animals, and people. The finished products have a rich atmosphere and local characteristics.
In the past, pinchers would usually carry a small wooden box and go from street to street to sell their wares. When a customer approached, they would open the box to display the pinched items for sale. Children would often gather around, considering the opportunity to watch the pincher at work a treat.
The pincher would start by breaking off a piece of colorful dough and attaching it to a small wooden stick to create a outline. Then, they would rub the dough with other colors, apply pressure, and shape facial features and limbs using various tools such as knives, toothpicks, and thread. The result is a magical human face or figure.
However, this craft is now rarely seen outside of the annual Spring Festival at temples.
