earticle

한국어

This study investigates the unique artistic value and cultural meaning of Xun County Mud Gugu within the context of Chinese folk painted clay sculpture, using a multi-dimensional comparative approach. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis between Mud Gugu and seven representative types of Chinese folk clay figurines. We aim to highlight Mud Gugu’s cultural distinctiveness and artistic value within the national intangible cultural heritage framework. To achieve this, we constructed a tripartite analytical model focusing on subject matter and function, historical-cultural context, and visual style and technique. Our unique contribution lies in integrating literature review, fieldwork, and visual analysis to establish a cross- regional comparison framework that has been largely absent in previous research. The results show that Mud Gugu features symbolic animal motifs, ritualistic functional meanings, and a stylized visual language deeply rooted in temple fair traditions of the Central Plains. We argue that this study offers a methodological innovation for evaluating folk clay figurines and underscores the significance of symbolic aesthetics in heritage preservation and regional identity formation.