Artists › Sculptors
Zhang Mingshan
Late Qing clay modeller of Tianjin who founded the Clay-Figure Zhang tradition of painted figures from life, the stage and the Dream of the Red Chamber
In an open-air carving yard before a lake and hills, a heap of rough white stone blocks rises at the left, a mat holds a mallet and a row of chisels, unfinished horse figures stand at both sides, a small seated figure sits on a table, and a mason sits among the blocks.
Also known as Personal name Changlin · Clay-Figure Zhang
- Roles
- Sculptors
Zhang Mingshan, personal name Changlin, was known by his courtesy name Mingshan. Born poor in Tianjin, he learned as a child to model clay figures for sale with his father and became famous for lifelike painted figures, earning the name Clay-Figure Zhang. He is said to have watched people at the theatre and modelled them in clay hidden in his sleeve; his figure of the Peking opera star Yu Sansheng in costume is counted among the earliest records of a Peking opera role. He drew on opera, folk tales and the Dream of the Red Chamber; the Palace Museum holds his Xichun Painting, and the Hall of Happiness and Longevity in the Summer Palace keeps his eight boxes of clay figures. His sons Zhang Yuting and Zhang Huatang carried on the craft.
Life and times
Dates 1826 CE–1906 CE