Dough Figurine Art

Dough figurine (miansu) is a Chinese folk art of sculpting colorful figures from glutinous rice flour dough. Using simple tools — a bamboo stick, small knife, and comb — artisans create miniature figures of characters from folklore, opera, and daily life. The dough is kneaded with pigments and preservatives, then shaped by hand into detailed three-dimensional sculptures. Masters can create a complex figure in minutes, preserving a tradition that once entertained children at temple fairs.