In 2008, the Tongwei spine beast was listed as the second batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage in Gansu Province.
It is not only a symbol of power, but also a treasure of the town house to drive away evil spirits and pray for blessings, and is mostly seen in temples, temples and residential buildings.
The production of Tongwei spine beast began in the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,300 years, which is an important part of the iconic culture of Tongwei region, and its shape not only has the afterglow of Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, but also integrates the cultural creations of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
Tongwei spine beasts, especially the most famous ones fired by the old man Li Zhongxian. Li Zhongxian, who was born in 1963 in Wafang Village, Maying Town, Tongwei County, is the provincial intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Tongwei spine beast production skills. Since 1981, he has been learning to make spine beasts from his uncle, and since 1986, he has begun to create on his own, forming his own unique style with his deep understanding of spine culture and skillful manual skills.
While fully combining the traditional cultural elements of the horse camp, his works creatively integrate ancient myths and legends, and the shape is vivid, lifelike, and interesting.
Every morning, like many old people in the northwest, after drinking a few cans of tea, the old man Li Zhongxian began his day's work - kneading the spine beast.
Walking into Li Zhongxian's spine beast workshop, you will always see all kinds of spine beast works, dragon and phoenix spine, unicorn send-off, lotus send-off, ascending dragon kiss, two dragons playing with pearls, peony lotus spine and other clay sculpture spine beasts are placed in the open space of the workshop, except for winter and spring when the weather is cold, he is making spine beasts for most of the year.
In Li Zhongxian's view, the production of spine beasts is both hard and meticulous, and every production link must be refined, and it takes two months for a work to be fired from soil selection, mud soaking, molding, pinching, painting, carving and firing. "This art has to be a bit of an art foundation, an art hobby. Without a little foundation in art, it is very difficult to learn. Li Zhongxian said that in addition to learning the skills of spine beasts, it is necessary to have an artistic foundation, but also to be able to endure loneliness, and slow work can produce fine work. No matter what kind of animal or pattern is made, it must have the momentum of "becoming a lion in the chest", "becoming a phoenix in the chest" and "becoming a dragon in the chest", so that it can be made in one go.
Innovation should be considered in the production process, not only the temple spine beasts, but also the artistic patterns and sand tables on the roadside in rural revitalization. Li Zhongxian said that he also plans to sculpt out the clay of folk customs and farming cultural figures, so as to better inherit the clay sculpture handicraft.
For Li Zhongxian today, as an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, his greatest wish is to continue to pass on this craft on the road of rural revitalization. As long as he still has a breath, as long as his body allows, he will always make the Spine Beast.
Tongwei |Tongwei Fusion Media.