Dough figures making belongs to a long tradition of Chinese folk art. These were originally carved rice sculptures in Taiwan they are called dough figures because of the material they are made out of. Because dough figures are beautifully colored and editable. Children especially love them. It seems ashamed that these exquisite figures are designed to be gobbled up.There is however another kind of dough figure. 

If you visit a temple fair you may notice some objects on the altar in the main hall these are dough figures used as offering. Dough figures were first made in China for banquets and large gathering in ancient Shen-dong and Hu-bai providence's. Later during the song and Yuan dynasties figures made of flour in forms of people objects birds and mammals were often brought in before the feast and displayed for guest appreciation. By the end of the Ming and the beginning of the Ching dynasties large and small case of dough figures people insects and birds were always to be seen at temple gatherings in winter times.

 Today dough figures have become pieces of art to be collected and admired rather then things to be displayed at temple fairs.  Dough figures are made by two different methods one method is to mix coloring into the dough. This sculpture of lord Guan is made from dough mixed with colors. The other method is to paint the surface of the dough this eel is a painted dough figure. Master She Jing -yuang of Lu-gun makes colored dough sculptures. 

At the age of 68 he has been making dough figures for over 50 years. During these years he has made countless dough sculptures he told us that he first started studying this out of interest and never thought he would end up doing this for half a century. Now with children and grandchildren around him he has once again returned to making dough figures for his own delight. Now days when old Mr. Shu has free time he trains apprentice elementary school children to make dough figures. In this way later generations can preserve the accumulated experiences of former generations and they themselves become the transmitters of this traditional art form. 

Next lets look at a different kind of dough figure. Painted dough sculptures this is Mr. Shu Ah-tin at the Mazu temple at Lu-gun most of Mr. Shu dough figures are used as alter offerings actually they serve as substitutes for what are called the twenty-four different alter offerings. 

They are the twelve mountain treasures and the twelve ocean bounties. In olden days when transportation's was less advanced mountain folk couldn't obtain seafood and seaside dwellers couldn't obtain mountain food. Therefore it became customary to use dough figures to replace what could not be obtained. Throughout the course of time these became obligatory offerings. The goddess Mazol with her subtle knowing smile appears to praise the skill of the dough figure craftsman.