Beijing Dough Figurines

Beijing Dough Figurines

　　Dough figurines, also known as dough modeling, are a type of folk handicraft that is simple to make but highly artistic. They are created primarily using flour and glutinous rice flour as the main ingredients, along with colorings, paraffin, honey, and other components. After undergoing anti-cracking and anti-mold treatments, these materials are made into soft, colorful dough. At 21 mesh, dough artists then manipulate the dough in their hands through various processes of kneading, rolling, rubbing, and lifting. Using small bamboo knives, they skillfully poke, cut, carve, and etch to shape the body, hands, and head. They then add hair ornaments and clothing, and in just a moment, a variety of artistic figures are brought to life—graceful women with flowing dresses, innocent children, as well as characters from myths, operas, and historical figures.

　　These lifelike dough figurines, when placed in delicate glass frames, become popular craft artworks cherished by many.

　　Dough figurines are small in size, easy to carry, and resistant to mold, cracking, deformation, and fading, making them a favorite among travelers and an excellent gift for friends and family. Foreign visitors who watch the making of dough figurines are often captivated by the artisans’ skilled techniques and the vivid, lifelike diversity of the characters, referring to Beijing dough figurines as "China's sculptural art."