Clay horse figurines on display in the studio of Zhang Yu, an inheritor of the century-old Clay Figurine Zhang school, to usher in the Year of the Horse. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Clay Figurine Zhang — national intangible cultural heritage
Tianjin Clay Figurine Zhang, a major clay-sculpture school in northern China, was founded by Zhang Mingshan (1826-1906) in Tianjin during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). With nearly 200 years of history, its subjects range from lifelike figures to Chinese zodiac and historical stories.
The age-old art form bridges tradition and innovation, bringing clay sculpture from temples into everyday life.
