Tangsu (Fengxian tangrengong)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Tangsu (tangrengong, Fengxian County)

Applicant: Feng County, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Project No.: 864

Project No.: Ⅶ - 88

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Feng County, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Protected by: Fengxian Cultural Center

Introduction to Tangsu (tangrengong, Fengxian County)

Applicant: Fengxian County, Jiangsu Province

Sugar sculpture is a special kind of traditional Chinese folk sculpture, which is mainly made by using the plasticity of sugar. Different from Western sculpture, Chinese folk sculpture contains rich modeling factors such as painting, sculpture, engraving, decoration and so on, which more reflects its own traditional aesthetic purport and technical characteristics. Most of the sugar molds are made of maltose and corn sugar, which are commonly known as "Tangxi". They are made by means of kneading, piling, pasting, cutting, blowing, rubbing, dragging, pressing, pouring and pulling, and by means of painting, dyeing, carving, drawing, dot, stamp, printing, inserting and patching. Sugar plastic products can be enjoyed, entertained and eaten directly. In Chinese folk, sugar sculptures are spread all over the north and south, with a broad mass base, which is closely related to folk life.

Fengxian tangrengong, commonly known as "tribute", is a popular folk sculpture art in Fengxian, Jiangsu Province. In the middle of Qing Dynasty, it spread to Fengxian area, and was widely used in the vast rural areas at the junction of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui. Tangrengong in Fengxian County has continued in the form of family inheritance, in which the Guo family inherits in an orderly way and has lasted for six generations. Fengxian tangrengong is made of high-quality white sugar and molded with pear wood mould, which is mainly used for funeral and sacrificial rites. It has a wide range of subjects, involving social life, folktales, myths and legends and other rich content. Its products have various styles, such as gods, animals, fruits, houses and appliances, showing a strong color of folk belief. Tangrengong is beautiful in shape, white as jade, crystal clear and transparent. After being finely painted with edible pigment, tangrengong is gorgeous in purity and elegant in simplicity, with unique characteristics and charm. Tangrengong in Fengxian County is a "living fossil" of ancient funeral culture. It provides image data for people to understand traditional customs, and has research value in folklore, culture, sociology and other aspects.