On January 27, 2024, members of the social practice team of the walking cultural team came to Bian Zhuang Street, Lanling County, Linyi City, Shandong Province, to gain an in-depth understanding and learn from the local mud whistle cultural and creative industry, and explore the perfect combination of traditional culture and modern innovation.
"Mud whistle" folk toys are mostly made of wood, paper, cloth, clay, etc., and are represented by the level of clay toys produced in Xiaoguo Village. There are more than 300 households in this village, and almost every family can do it. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was an important means for poor families to support their families. They took the locally produced yellow clay, smashed it many times, molded the mud, dried it, painted it, and carried it out mass production. The clay toys in Xiaoguo Village have a long history and a wide variety, some of which are just like the unearthed Tang figurines. It is these inconspicuous mud that have been transformed into all kinds of birds and animals, drama characters, auspicious longevity peaches and cute fat dolls through the dexterous hands of folk artists.
The mud whistle of Xiaoguo Village in Lanling is a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Shandong, which originated from the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, and its production skills have been passed down from generation to generation, and has now developed to more than 200 flower samples. The team members came to Xiaoguo Village, visited the clay sculpture workshop, and learned about the production process and process of clay sculpture. They also mingled with local clay sculptors and listened to their stories and history about clay sculptures. Under the guidance of the artist, the university students also tried their hand at making clay sculptures. They found that the seemingly simple process of making clay sculptures is actually not easy, requiring patience and skill. However, when they saw the clay sculptures they had made gradually take shape, they felt a sense of accomplishment.
This social practice activity not only allowed the college students to have a deeper understanding of Lanling Xiaoguo Ni Whistle, but also allowed them to experience the charm of traditional art. They said that through this event, they cherish and attach more importance to intangible cultural heritage, and are willing to contribute to the protection and inheritance of these precious cultural heritages.
In addition, the social practice team also had in-depth exchanges with the mud whistle artists in Lanling County, and learned about the development process and current situation of mud whistle art, as well as the inheritance and development of mud whistle art in modern society. They will bring their experience and feelings of studying in Lanling County back to the school, and through research and practice, they will explore how to combine traditional culture with modern innovation, and make their own contributions to promoting the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture.
This social practice activity not only gave the students an in-depth understanding of the art of mud whistles, but also allowed them to experience the charm of intangible cultural heritage, and improved their cultural literacy and sense of social responsibility. At the same time, it also provides a new perspective and ideas for the dissemination and promotion of mud whistle art in Lanling County.
In the future, Qufu Normal University's social practice team, the Walking Culture Team, will continue to go deep into more communities and villages, carry out more social practice activities, practice social responsibility with practical actions, and make greater contributions to promoting China's social and cultural development.
Writer: Fu Xinran.
Walking cultural team.
Reviewed instructor: Ji Yuchao.