Heyidian Xiguo Clay Sculptures

Last updated 2026-11-10 — Clay sculptures come in many types, are easy to source materials for, and can range from large to small. The clay sculpture works of Xiguo in Heyidian, Shenxian County, are beloved for their unique artistic style. Heyidian Town is located 10 kilometers north of Shenxian County and sits at the junction of Shenxian County, Guan County, and Dongchangfu District. The clay sculpture tradition of Xiguo in Heyidian has a long history, spanning nearly a hundred years. In the 1920s, Henan folk artist Meng San fled to Xiguo Village during a famine and made a living by crafting clay sculptures. Later, the entire village learned the craft, which has been passed down through generations. Xiguo clay sculptures are made from red clay through processes such as watering, molding, base coating, and painting. Their designs are simple yet bold, with exaggerated features that do not aim for lifelike realism but instead focus on expressive gestures, resulting in lively charm and endless decorative appeal. The main subjects include molded clay dolls and reed-whistle roosters. The character designs of Xiguo clay sculptures are influenced by the portrayal methods of theatrical figures since the Ming and Qing dynasties, bearing distinct characteristics of the era. The clay dolls mainly depict characters from folklore and drama: the Laughing Buddha, Guanyin Delivering a Child, Su San Being Escorted, Chang’e Flying to the Moon, Wu Song Fighting the Tiger, Lying on Ice to Catch a Carp, Magistrate Liu Judging a Case, and Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. They portray festive and lively themes, symbolizing peace and good fortune, expressing the working people’s understanding of life and their aspirations for a better future, fully reflecting the traditional folk customs of western Shandong. Xiguo’s clay sculpture crafts have been exhibited at the Shandong Provincial Folk Clay Sculpture Art Exhibition. The April 1992 issue of People’s Pictorial featured a full-page spread of photos of Xiguo clay sculptures.