Zhongkui Clay Sculpture

Clay sculpture with colored drawings of Fengxiang, Shaanxi, originated from the Western Zhou time prior to the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), and has been handed down among the people for about 3 thousand years, as one of the oldest kinds of hand-made clay sculpture with the most distinctive national features. According to textual research by experts, the colored drawings are similar to those on the bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou times, and the imago modeling characterized chiefly by flowers, grass, fish, insects, lucky birds and beasts is a trace of the totemism, reproduction worship and gods adoration of ancient China, reflecting the cultural specificity of the totem epoch. They are finely made through dozens of stages from the creation of the original piece to modeling, molding, fine polishing, drawing, line making, coloring, glazing, etc. Because of their vivid, crude, exaggerative, terse, mighty and lovely modeling, their bright red and bright green tints, their flowing lines, and their romantic and miraculous emblazonry, they are highly regarded and greatly liked by people both home and abroad. They can be used as art treasures or tourist souvenirs characteristic of Shaanxi for presenting to friends and relatives, and can also serve as symbols of luck for keeping away evils, protecting the home and adding happiness to the family.

The God Zhongkui
According to legend, Zhongkui is a god for driving away ghosts and evil, and keeping peace and health. Rich imagination and romantic techniques have portrayed him as such an image: His head is big, his legs are short; He is straightening his back and bending his waist, showing the posture for killing a demon. The sculpture shows Zhongkui's wit and bravery; He wears the cap of an officer, carries a double-edged sword, showing his supernatural power and majesty to frighten demons.