Clay Figurine Zhang

(This story is written by famous Chinese writer Feng Jicai, one of Tianjin’s LIVING treasures. He was born there in 1942. He has a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture and has produced a number of works based on his assiduous studies. His vivid portraits of the everyday lives of average people are also astute commentaries on society. He has a wry wit and a subtle humor that are as delightful in translation as they are in the original Chinese. This story is based on the experience of an outstanding craftsman in Tianjin and the rich culture of the city. )

To fare well in days past, one needed a good skill. A craftsman relied on his hands—hands with a unique capability. In every level of society, there must be a few top craftsmen. In Tianjin they were Brick-Carving Liu, Clay Figurine Zhang, Kite Wei, Machinery Wang and Brush Li. Tianjin people liked to link their specialties with their surnames. Over time, they became known by these nicknames, their original names eventually being forgotten. When one earned a nickname, he would be considered a person of significance in Tianjin communities.

Among those who lived off making clay figurines for sale, Clay Figurine Zhang ranked number one. There was no number two or number three. Others were far behind him as far as craftsmanship was concerned.

The proper name of Clay Figurine Zhang was Zhang Mingshan. In the years under the rule of Emperor Xianfeng, he was a frequent visitor of two places: the Panorama Theatre in the northeast corner of the city and the Tianqing Restaurant at Beiguankou. He would often sit there and observe every kind of person and make every sort of figurine with clay. In the theatre, he watched all types of characters on stage. In the restaurant, he watched people of all types in the human world, which had more variety than the other place.

One rainy day he sat alone sipping wine and observing people in Tianqing Restaurant. Then, in walked three customers. The one in the middle had a big head, was of medium height and very well dressed. He stalked in, thrusting his chest out, with the air of an important individual. A waiter standing at a table near the gate hurriedly ushered them in, while announcing, “Here come Mr. Zhang the Fifth and two honorable guests! It’s a great honor to have Mr. Zhang the Fifth here.

At this, all the diners stopped chewing, even lay down their chopsticks and turned to look at this renowned figure Zhang the Fifth. This man, named Zhang Jingwen, was famous at the time throughout the city and its outskirts for making a fortune by trading in salt. He had once risked his life for General Hui Ren in the capital and therefore had been adopted by the general as a son. At the restaurant, Clay Figurine Zhang kept drinking, eating and looking around. To him, Zhang the Fifth was no one special. But, a while later, someone at Zhang the Fifth’s table was talking about him, and echoed by Zhang the Fifth’s loud, husky voice.

M1: He made clay figurines in his sleeve while watching an opera one day. When he finished and displayed it, the figurine was exactly the same as one of the characters on stage.

M2: (Zhang the Fifth) Where? Did you say inside his sleeve? He probably made it inside his pants!

Zhang the Fifth guffawed, enjoying his own joke at the expense of Clay Figurine Zhang.

Every one in the restaurant had heard what he’d said. They were waiting to see how Clay Figurine Zhang would respond. Would he throw clay dough at Zhang the Fifth?

But Clay Figurine Zhang did nothing. He put his left hand beneath the table and fished out a piece of clay dough. He kept drinking with his right hand holding the glass of wine, his eyes resting on the dishes on the table. The fingers on his left hand, which were more deft than that of Magician Bald Pate, began to fiercely work the clay.

Zhang the Fifth and his cronies amused themselves with joking while Clay Figurine Zhang set out to ridicule the rude man. Then he stopped working, lay a clay head on the table and went to the counter to pay his bill.

All in the restaurant craned their necks to look. What a lifelike head! It was a true image of Zhang the Fifth, a gourd-like head and a pair of bulging eyes—the elegance of the work! It was as though the actual head of Zhang the Fifth had been removed and put on the table. Only…it was the size of a walnut.

Zhang the Fifth, though far away, could tell that the clay head represented his own head. He cried to Clay Figurine Zhang who was on his way to the gate,

M2: How can you earn your living with such poor craftsmanship? No one should buy your junk, no matter how cheap it is!

Without turning his head, Clay Figurine Zhang walked out.

The next day, on the counters of some grocery stores on Apparel Street in Beimenwai, row after row of clay figurines of Zhang the Fifth had been laid out. This time it was not merely a head but with an attached body. Obviously, they had been mass-produced by molds. There were altogether some two hundred. In addition, in each grocery store a piece of paper had been posted, with the words “Zhang the Fifth on Sale!” This generated much laughter from passersby. Some even asked their friends to join the fun.

Three days later, Zhang the Fifth sent people to buy all those figurines at a high price. It was said that he even purchased the molds.