Dali Heqing Tile Cat

Dali Heqing Tile Cat

　　For the third time, I painstakingly glued the tail of that clay tile cat back on using water, preparing to do it a fourth time.

　　 Reflecting on the journey to find the Heqing tile cats, it really was quite an ordeal. Torrential rain, muddy and treacherous rural dirt roads, a battered Beijing Jeep crammed with six people and with wipers screeching incessantly, as if we were riding the waves. A girl traveling with us clutched my hand tightly and turned to ask why. I replied, “I’m afraid the car door isn’t sturdy—you might get thrown out...”

　　 The master craftsman is a skilled artisan who takes tile cats from the ridges of ordinary people’s homes and transforms them into artworks exported abroad, yet he shows no trace of the shrewdness typical of a businessman. Not good with words, when he grins, his rustic charm still shines through. A lump of clay, a small basin of water, a small blade, and a few cylinders of varying diameters—35 minutes later, a vividly lifelike tile cat emerges. With misty eyes, a wide-open mouth, sharp teeth and claws, it looks cheerful yet retains an air of mystery.

　　 It is said that the more ferocious a tile cat looks, the better it is at warding off evil spirits. The master’s brilliance lies in the fact that each tile cat he makes is created spontaneously, resulting in unique expressions and full of character—no two are ever alike.

　　 Once fired, the tile cat sheds its heavy yellow clay hue and turns into a grayish-blue. It either perches on the roof ridge, surveying the surroundings, safeguarding family peace while receiving reverence and offerings, or becomes a beloved object displayed on bookshelves or fondled in hands.

　　 On the way back, I didn’t just bring back three large boxes of variously shaped tile cats, but also couldn’t bear to leave behind the unfired clay cat made by the master on the spot. I wrapped it in layer upon layer of clothing, carefully carrying it over mountains and rivers—yet its tail still broke off a bit.

　　 So I always warn everyone who comes into the room not to touch my little cat, and when that warning proves ineffective, I once again learn from the master to glue the cat’s tail back on with water. In the end, I proudly watch as it stands proudly on the bookshelf once more...

　　Tips:

　　 1. The tile cat is an auspicious creature used to ward off evil and disasters, often placed on the ridges of houses. The most famous ones come from Chenggong in Kunming and Heqing in Dali. The Chenggong tile cats resemble real cats more closely, with lively appearances; those from the Bai region of Heqing feature exaggerated designs, large mouths, and are usually in a crouching posture, exuding a fierce tiger-like aura.

　　 2. Most Heqing tile cats come from Zhao Tun, but those made by Master Gao are considered the most artistically valuable and full of spirit. He exports around 20,000 to 30,000 tile cats each year. As artworks, Master Gao’s standard-shaped tile cats are priced at around 30 yuan each, with more complex designs varying in price. Only those bearing the “Heqing Cat Fu” seal are confirmed to be his works.