Mianren (jiangmi people in Caoxian county)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Mianren (jiangmi people in Caoxian county)

Applicant: Cao County, Shandong Province

Project No.: 828

Project No.: Ⅶ - 52

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Shandong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Cao County, Shandong Province

Protection unit: Caoxian Cultural Center

Introduction to Mianren (jiangmi people in Caoxian county)

Applicant: Cao County, Shandong Province

Dough figurine, also known as "dough figurine" and "jiangmi people", is a traditional plastic art with edible flour and glutinous rice flour as the main raw materials. It is popular all over the country and deeply loved by the people. Most of the dough figurines take animals and characters in myths and legends, historical stories and local operas as their subjects, and their basic shapes are divided into two types: the "signature type" and the "case type". The former is mostly food and play goods for children's entertainment, with simple shape and vivid shape; the latter is elegant display art, with exquisite workmanship and exquisite shape. It also needs to mix additives in the raw materials for anti cracking, anti insect and anti mildew treatment. Generally, dough figurines are made by kneading, rubbing, kneading, lifting and other techniques to shape the general shape. Then, bamboo knives are used to skillfully place, cut, carve, scratch, depict hands, feet, head, face, facial expression and other local details. Finally, hair accessories, dresses and related plug-ins are added to complete the work. The art of dough figurine mainly relies on the improvisation of the artists who walk through the streets. They have mastered the skillful shaping skills. They know the theme, modeling, color matching and other process procedures clearly, and can turn the dough into a high spirited artistic image in an instant. Dough figurine art, which is inherited and developed among the people, reposes the aesthetic feelings and life ideals of the general public, and provides important material materials for the study of Chinese folk history, customs and art.

Jiangmi people in Caoxian county is a traditional dough sculpture art popular in Caoxian County, Shandong Province, which evolved from ancient offerings to gods. According to the local veteran artists who make jiangmi people, in the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty, Taoyuan town and ancailou town of Caoxian county already had the custom of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth and the God of fire. The "Huagong" included the offerings of characters, auspicious animals, flowers and birds made from jiangmi noodles. This kind of folk custom of offering dough figurines to express blessing wishes has continued to this day, but the theme has been greatly expanded, including auspicious birds and animals, fairy flowers and grass, drama stories, myths and legends, historical figures, folk customs and real life. When not used as offerings, jiangmi people in Caoxian county are mainly "signature style" food and game products for entertaining children. Jiangmi people in Caoxian county are rich in styles, simple in shape, gorgeous in color and vivid in shape, showing a strong artistic quality. As a traditional skill closely related to the sacrificial custom, it has an important reference value in the study of folk religious culture. At present, under the impact of the modern lifestyle, the living space of jiangmi in Caoxian county is shrinking, which has been facing a great inheritance crisis and needs urgent rescue and protection.