Ge Village Molds

Ge Village Molds

　　Ge Village Molds

　　In Jimo folk culture, it is customary to make festive wheat flour pastries shaped like fish, peaches, tigers, and gold ingots—symbols of good fortune—during holidays and joyous occasions. In 1802, Wang Pilang from Wangjiage Village (now part of Longshan Subdistrict) designed his own patterns and carved dough molds (commonly known as gezi) using round chisels and curved scrapers based on this tradition. The molds feature clear patterns inside, including lotus leaves, lotus pods, goldfish, peaches, and gold ingots, among others. The products were once sold in Shanghai, Tianjin, and various locations within the province. This craft was passed down through generations of the Wang family, and they also took on apprentices to teach the skill. After the implementation of the household responsibility system in 1981, the production of dough molds reached its peak, with an annual output of 2 million pieces and a total net income of 3 million yuan for the village. However, after 1995, due to a shortage of raw materials, the number of carvers and operators gradually declined. By 2003, there were over 60 practitioners in the village, and the demand for their hand-carved dough molds still exceeded supply.