Huishan clay figurines, which are famous at home and abroad, began in the Southern Dynasties and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,000 years. Huishan clay figurine is rich in subject matter, exquisite in skill, lifelike, elegant and popular. Products are divided into two categories: one is hand-made clay figurines with wonderful ideas and fine workmanship. Mr. Guo Moruo praised it as "a clay figurine without ancient and modern figures, and a masterpiece with high artistic appreciation and collection value"; The other is clay figurines and gypsum handicrafts, which are produced in batches with molds, with large quantities and low prices.
Among the clay figurines in Huishan, the word Huishan Dafu is the most familiar and loved by ordinary people. Speaking of Dafu Bao, Huishan still has such a folklore. A long time ago, wild animals ran rampant in Huishan area, endangering children. There is a child named "Sha", who fights against wild animals and exterminates pests for the people. In order to commemorate "sand", people used Huishan clay to mold a brave image of "sand". Later, through the continuous processing and creation of artists of all ages, this artistic image, which entrusted people with their longing for a better life, remained in people's hearts.
We don't know whether Alfred or the legend came first. The image of Daafu, like the sitting statue of Huishan Temple on the classic building in Darani built in 876 A.D., and the boy figure in the pattern of "bound peony" on the "Golden Lotus Bridge" in the Song Dynasty, is so imaginative.
Yu Xianglian, a master of arts and crafts in China: Because Daafu was originally enshrined there as a god, because it was used to ward off evil spirits. There is a legend that in 2008, it ate the sun during the day and the moon at night. It is playing with the sun and the moon, disturbing people and making their lives restless. But Ah Fu conquered Nian again, so he held Nian in his hand and listened to Ah Fu. In this way, life will be peaceful, so everyone wants to live a peaceful life. With the changes of the times, I now turn the image of Ah Fu into the image of a child, hoping that my child will have air. There is a historical evolution process in it, which gradually evolved into the current mascot.
In the early days, the shape of Da Afu was a correct sitting posture, with big ears and a face full of Buddhist compassion and auspiciousness. The peony flowers on his head, the longevity lock on his chest, the big lion in his arms and the boots on his feet represent the auspicious meanings of preciousness, longevity, avoiding evil spirits and juvenile enrollment respectively.
Ah Fu's shape is round and plump, omitting many physical details. The whole work is full and full, without edges and corners. No matter how rough the surface is, it will be completed by an arc. The round and delicate shape adds a touch of Jiangnan charm to Huishan clay figurine. This combination of circle and relief laid the basic style of Huishan clay figurine.
Zou Wen, Associate Professor of Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts: It is said that the shape of Daafu comes from a myth and legend. It is said that in Jiangnan, there are two gods, a woman and a man, like immortals. They have a charm, especially like China, that is, he is not very brave, he is a very feminine thing, that is, when he smiles, the enemy will be laughed down by him and swallowed by himself. Therefore, his smile has a strong China cultural color. He has a tolerance, a magnanimity and an atmosphere. Its suppression of the enemy is based on the enemy's submission to himself without sacrificing his own life. Big Alfred usually smiles, but behind him is conquest.
For hundreds of years, Ah Fu's lovely and childlike image has been deeply loved by the people of China. With the changes of the times, Ah Fu's image is different. But the basic shape is one or a pair of fat dolls. The coat it wears, with a big green lion in its arms, looks dignified in silence and simple and honest in humility, and closely follows the theme of "happiness" from content to form. His chubby, smiling image, with the flesh and blood and charm endowed by the artist, entered thousands of households and brought people good luck, wishful thinking and happiness.