Xinjiang Terracotta Art

Author: Zhang Wenguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
(1) Forms and Patterns of Xinjiang Terracotta Pottery
The shapes of Xinjiang terracotta pots are unique. Through field surveys, they have been categorized into over twenty types. The forms of these pots reflect the fertile land in southern and eastern Xinjiang, which is rich in fruits and flowers. The shapes of various fruits and flowers are incorporated into the designs of the pots, such as melon-shaped, peach-shaped, pear-shaped, and gourd-shaped. Among these, gourd-shaped pots are particularly common, accounting for about one-third of the total types.
The southern part of Xinjiang, known as the "desert oasis," is abundant in various types of gourds, including slender-waisted treasure gourds, long-handled gourds, ladle gourds, egg gourds, and multi-angled gourds. The larger ones, measuring up to 80 cm in height, are used as water storage tanks, while the smaller ones, 7–8 cm in size, are used as snuff bottles. Egg gourds are used as pigeon whistles, multi-angled gourds are used for holding condiments like salt, and ladle gourds and long-handled gourds are primarily used as ladles. These natural utility items are meticulously crafted or decorated with (), (), (), or painting, transforming them into practical art crafts. This has provided inspiration and reference for the design of Xinjiang terracotta pottery. The size, shape, height, and thickness of slender-waisted gourds have a direct influence on the design of terracotta pots.
The exceptional artistic creativity of Xinjiang terracotta pot artisans infuses these seemingly rigid pots with artistic vitality. Some pots resemble graceful and elegant young ladies, while others resemble luxurious and plump noblewomen. Some are like wealthy landowners or bosses, and others are like simple, sturdy farmers. The forms of Xinjiang terracotta pots are predominantly variations of gourd shapes, most of which have trumpet-shaped mouths and ring bases. Nearly half of the pots feature domed tops, with over ten types of niche designs on the smooth domes. Flat pots account for about one-fifth of the total, all with hollow circular legs and small high bases. Pottery pots with handles, tower-shaped pots, and wheel pots are relatively rare.
Most Xinjiang terracotta jars have small ring bases and come in various forms, such as tall, open-mouthed, wide-mouthed, and small-mouthed. Most have handles on both sides, with jars featuring spouts, open mouths, and low bellies with small ring bases being particularly prominent. The forms of Xinjiang terracotta cups are still influenced by gourd shapes, with handles of varying heights on one side. Xinjiang terracotta tanks are generally elliptical with bulging bellies and ring bases, though some have larger or smaller bases and some have small or large mouths. Xinjiang terracotta bowls and plates mostly have open mouths with small trumpet-shaped legs, with a few having large ring bases. Xinjiang terracotta basins resemble a terracotta plate placed on top of a terracotta jar, with the center of the plate hollowed out to allow water to flow into the jar.
The decorative patterns of Xinjiang terracotta pottery can be seen as the craftsmen's pure pursuit of beauty. The artisans, using their ingenuity, select prominent positions on everyday pottery and employ various techniques such as carving, stamping, painting, spinning, and appliqué to skillfully demonstrate their artistic expression of the abstract and the concrete, the simple and the complex. The patterns are often inspired by real-life flowers, leaves, and vines, such as almond blossoms, pomegranate blossoms, four-petaled flowers, and eight-petaled flowers. The borders are mostly straight or slanted geometric lines, along with triangle patterns, toothed patterns, meander patterns, sun patterns, and niche patterns. However, these patterns are highly refined and exaggerated, each reflecting the artisans' aesthetic tastes. For example, four-petaled flowers symbolize pure hearts and eternal life, pomegranate blossoms represent passion and brightness, rooster combs signify sincerity, butterfly flowers celebrate friendship, almond blossoms symbolize strength and unwavering perseverance, roses represent beauty and love, and sunflowers symbolize a bright future.