Tang’s Dough Figurine Art Gallery

Tang’s Dough Figurine Art Gallery

Destination Introduction: The Grand Canal has nurtured many talents. The ancient city of Tongzhou, where the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal begins, is a place rich in natural bounty and home to many remarkable people. The internationally renowned Tang family dough figurine art originated in Tongzhou and is a unique art form born from the canal culture. The first-generation master of dough figurines, Tang Zibo (art name: Tang’s Dough Figurine), was born in 1882 on Nanjie Street in Tongzhou’s Xincheng area. From a young age, he had a passion for painting and sculpting, with diverse interests. He studied medicine, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen. During the late Qing Dynasty, he encountered a Shandong dough figurine artist at Tongzhou’s Wanshou Palace, became deeply interested, and purchased some of their dough to diligently study and practice the craft. Eventually, he mastered it. He transformed the traditional stick-held figurines into plaque-mounted dough sculptures and even innovated the art of walnut-shell dough figurines. Tang-style dough figurines are distinctive for their vividly lifelike expressions, intricate details, and astonishing craftsmanship—Tang could create as many as 27 figures within half a walnut shell, a true masterpiece of art. In 1956, the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts established the Tang Zibo Studio, marking the elevation of "Tang’s Dough Figurine" from folk art to the realm of fine arts. Mr. Tang Zibo devoted his life tirelessly to the development of national arts and crafts. Many of his works were selected as national gifts and frequently exhibited both domestically and abroad, earning him a medal at the "Exhibition of Plastic Arts from Socialist Countries." The second-generation successor of Tang’s Dough Figurine, Tang Sugu, graduated from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Growing up in an artistic family and influenced by his surroundings, he developed a love for poetry and painting from childhood. He inherited his father’s skills and played a crucial role in carrying forward and innovating the dough figurine art through both theory and practice, infusing it with more contemporary and national characteristics. His publications include “Sketches by Dough Figurine Master Tang Zibo,” “Dough Figurine Making,” “A Grand View of Chinese Folk Art,” and “History of North American Indigenous Art.” He visited and lectured in over 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Japan, holding exhibitions that significantly contributed to promoting national culture and fostering international friendship. His works have been exhibited and awarded numerous times both at home and abroad, and are collected by institutions such as the Xu Beihong Memorial Hall, the University of Paris, and Tokyo artisans. In 1996, UNESCO awarded Mr. Tang Sugu the title of “Master of Folk Arts and Crafts.” With strong support from the Tongzhou District Committee, District Government, and Mr. Tang Sugu, the Tongzhou District Archives established the “Tang’s Dough Figurine Art Gallery” to promote the culture of the Grand Canal and showcase Tongzhou’s profound cultural heritage. The gallery was officially unveiled on July 12, 2001, and welcomes visitors from all walks of life.

Contact Information: Tel: 010–69551025 Address: No. 301, Xinhua North Street, Tongzhou District (inside the District Committee compound)

Tongzhou, Tongzhou