Artistic Characteristics of Chashan Clay Sculpture in Dongguan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63313/EH.9074Keywords:
Dongguan Clay Sculpture, Artistic Characteristics, Cultural Symbolism, National Identity, Lingnan Folk ArtAbstract
Chashan handmade clay sculpture in Dongguan represents a significant tradition within the Lingnan folk art system, encompassing Chashan figurines and silk-clad lantern figurines with over seven hundred years of history. Despite its cultural significance, systematic art-historical analysis of its artistic characteristics remains limited. Drawing on Sculpture Design Theory, Cultural Symbolism Theory, and National Identity Theory, this study examines the design, regional, and cultural characteristics of Chashan clay sculpture. The findings reveal a distinctive regional artistic paradigm in which stylized modeling, high-contrast chromatics, dense decorative grammar, and composite craft techniques are shaped by Pearl River Delta environmental conditions, the Lantern Lighting ceremony, and Lingnan symbolic traditions. The study contributes an integrated analytical framework for the study of regional clay sculpture and offers practical insights for the living transmission of Dongguan intangible cultural heritage.
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