Polychrome Air-Dried Clay Sculptures (Nísù) in Shanxi, China
Community Practice, Conservation, and Cultural Continuity
Abstract
This paper examines nísù (泥塑), the Chinese tradition of polychrome air-dried clay sculpture, through a field study of twenty-one temple sites in Shanxi Province, which preserves one of the world's richest concentrations of monumental examples from the Tang to Qing dynasties. Combining field observation, stratigraphic examination, photography, and interviews with nísù artisans and temple caretakers, the study investigates the relationship between craft practice, ritual life, community stewardship, and conservation. The results show nísù to be a composite, stratified system whose fundamental logic has remained remarkably stable over time, with two interconnected systems of care: community-based maintenance embedded in devotional practice, and professional conservation-restoration. Preservation outcomes depend on material conditions, architectural maintenance, ritual use, and community engagement. Conservation strategies must address both material stability and living cultural continuity.
open access | peer reviewed
Presentato: 19 Luglio 2026 | Pubblicato Prossimamente | Lingua: en
Keywords air-dried clay, nísù 泥塑, conservation, traditional
Copyright © 2026 Gesa Schwantes, Chunyan Ye, Qun Cheng, Xianliang Liang, Yiyan Niu, Pengxiao Hao, Mònica López-Prat. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/979-12-5742-112-0/006