Tianjin as Seen by Foreign Talents
This time Tianjin’s Foreign Talents will take you to the Clay Figure Zhang Museum or “泥人张” nírénzhāng. “nírén” in chinese language means “clay figure” and “zhang” is one of the most common surnames in the world. If everything is clear with clay figures, then who is Mr.Zhang? an inquisitive reader may ask. His name is Zhang Mingshan (1826-1906), he was the first who started to mould clay figures in Tianjin.
“Clay Figure Zhang” in Tianjin literature
As Feng Jicai wrote in his book “Extraordinary People in Our Ordinary World”: among the people in the art of craftsmanship, “Clay Figure Zhang” who kneaded clay figurines ranked first. Moreover, there is the first, there is no second, and the third is a hundred and eight thousand miles away.
冯骥才
手艺道上的人，捏泥人的 “泥人张”排第一。而且，有第一，没有第二，第三差着十万八千里。
Who are they?
The images of Clay Figure Zhang vary from historic figures to portraits of laobaixing (ordinary people). They all have realistic characteristics and can portray the figures' personality and posture.
Zhuangzi and his butterfly dream
According to the Chinese philosophical classic Zhuangzi, the great Daoist thinker of that name fell asleep one day and dreamed that he was a butterfly. When he woke up, he did not know whether he really was a man who had dreamed he was a butterfly or whether he was a butterfly now dreaming he was a man.
Best friends
Boya, an ancient qin master. His friend Zhong Ziqi was deeply attuned to Boya’s music. When Zhong died, Boya destroyed his qin, declaring that he had no reason to keep playing now that no one understood him. Since then, the term zhiyin 知音, defined as someone who understands or appreciates one’s sound or music, has been used to refer to a dear friend.
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong (1893-1976), Chinese communist leader.
What is a New Age “Clay Figure Zhang”?
When people mention “Clay Figure Zhang” nowadays, they no longer think of Zhang Mingshan, but the famous time-honored brand.
Tianjin Special Souvenir
When you arrive in Tianjin, after a portion of Goubuli baozi (a brand of stuffend baozi from Tianjin) and a walk along Wudadao (The Five Avenues), do not forget to drop by an ancient culture street and choose a Nirenzhang as a souvenir. After all, this is a special souvenir from Tianjin.
Taken on Sony a7m2 with old lenses: Zenit Helios 44m7 58mm, Carl Zeiss ddr Jena 135mm and Konica Hexanon 28mm
the originator of the page Alina Ermakova