Traditional folk custom doll

Last summer, I saw a pile of clean loess piled in the yard of my old neighbor Qi Wangbo. He squatted beside the pile and used a hammer and roller to smash the lumps into powder, and then took Sieve through the sieve a few times. I was so focused that I didn't notice when I was next to him.

"Ah! You scared me, my nephew?" Qi Wangbo was startled by me.

"Uncle, what are you doing?" I asked curiously, thinking that even coal blending can't handle such fine soil?

"Hey, you don't know this, right? I'm just idle when I'm free, playing around, practicing my skills, and making some dolls. Come and see how my uncle's skills are in a few days." Qi Wang Uncle is trying to be mysterious.

A few days later, Uncle Qiwang waved to me from afar. I walked over to him, and he was so happy that he lowered his voice and said to me: It’s done! Come and take a look! I followed him into the courtyard without knowing why.

"Look! Doesn't it look good?" Qi Wangbo pointed at the stone table under the window sill to show me.

Ah! ! ! I saw these indescribable pictures, directly above the picture

Qi Wangbo saw that I was dumbfounded and confused, and said embarrassedly: I have been tinkering with these dolls these days. This is the Temple of Heaven. Send those dolls in the empress’ palace! The first time I did it, I didn’t do it well and it made you laugh.

I didn’t respond. I just looked at Qi Wangbo up and down for a while. Are these handicrafts really made by a "rough man" like him? It's really carrots dipped in hot sauce - you can't tell when you eat it!

"Ah! Uncle, you did it so beautifully! I didn't know you had such good skills. You are simply an artist in our village! Really!" I said with admiration.

"Hahaha, don't you dare, I also want to pass on the customs passed down by our elders! Although young people don't believe this now, if you can give one away, everyone will hold a baby. If I happen to have a baby, it’s fate!”

The old man’s words reminded me of the folk customs that have been passed down for thousands of years...

From ancient times to the present, every year on the third day of the lunar calendar On the 15th day of the lunar month, there is a Temple Fair at the Temple of Heaven. Incense fills the Temple of Heaven, and faithful men and women worship God and pray devoutly. Among the many temples, the Hall of Empress Suizi is also one of the most visited by pilgrims. Many couples who have been childless for many years worship the Empress Suizi three times and kowtow to the Empress Suizi with great piety. They talk to her about their long-cherished wishes. , praying for a son as soon as possible. Offer good incense candles and tributes, and donate a certain amount of incense money. After a process, he would take the requested doll and hold it in his arms with great care and joy, as if he had really given birth to a child. He would kindly say to the requested doll: My baby is good, mom (or other names). ) took you back to our home!

After picking up the baby, you were not allowed to look back or talk to anyone on the way. After walking quickly all the way home, incense was burned at the gate and door of the house. The host kowtowed to the god, and then respectfully Place the baby in an auspicious location at home where it will not be easily discovered by outsiders, so that it cannot be moved or looked at until the baby is pregnant and gives birth. This is considered a true success in seeking a child. Then at the first Temple of Heaven temple fair after giving birth to a child, the head of the family must carry a load, which is also a tribute of good incense and candles, and climb the steep and steep ladder step by step. When they arrive at the Temple of the Concubine, they also pray three times and nine times devoutly. Kowtow, offer tributes, and happily report to the Empress that she is finally blessed with a baby son. All thanks to the blessing of the Empress. This is "a wish".

I carefully looked at the rows of lifelike dolls and discovered something strange. Why do these dolls have no mouths?

"I didn't draw the mouth because I was afraid that the baby would have to eat the family's food when I brought it back. This would make him poorer and poorer." Qi Wangbo saw what I was thinking and explained in time. ah! So that's what happened.

Next, Qi Wangbo told me the process of making clay dolls. It sounds simple but requires patience and basic skills to make!

First of all, you must choose clean loess. Do not use red soil, which is prone to cracks. After crushing and sifting the loess, mix it into mud, add water while stirring, and knead it into a shape when it reaches a certain viscosity. There are also skills in kneading. You must ensure that each doll is basically the same size. This requires mastering the weight of the yellow mud and the size of the mud pieces each time. During the kneading process, pinch out the outline of the head, body and limbs in proportion, and then carefully Make repairs and add or remove materials.

After a lot of hard work, bake it at the appropriate heat, and flip the mold from time to time to achieve uniform dryness. This requires a lot of skill! After the baking is successful, use a pen to outline the hair, facial features, and limbs on the hard clay doll. This is painted with different colors of paint. They must be distinguished so that the colors do not mix and ensure that each doll has a beautiful appearance.

Ah! Such a cute and seemingly simple doll actually has such sophisticated technical content!

This reminds me of the old folk artist "Uncle" in Mo Yan's novel "Frog". The difference is that we are pinching identical unborn dolls, while "uncle" is pinching tens of thousands of post-birth dolls that have been delivered by "aunt" herself.

If "uncle" pinches the mortal body of each child, what we pinch is the soul that is injected into it and brings happiness and joy to every family and even the reproduction of mankind...