The piercing cold wind couldn’t stop the international students from exploring the Hongshan Culture. Upon hearing that a new IP featuring the jade pig-shaped dragon had been created, Russian students from Shenyang Institute of Technology visited the “Shenyang Li’s Sugar Figurine Craftsmanship” studio located in Zhongjie Street in Shenyang City. They cheerfully learned how to make the representative jade pig-shaped dragon of the Hongshan Culture with edible sugar.
The studio is filled with various sugar figurines crafted by the inheritor, Li Fengyan, including a golden “Dazheng Hall at the Shenyang Imperial Palace”, an one-meter-tall “Phoenix”, and “Chang’e” embracing a jade rabbit. Stripped of the “fragile” label of traditional artifacts, these sugar figurines become delightful works of art.
Sugar figurine making is a traditional Chinese craftsmanship with a history of over 200 years. According to different production techniques, it can be divided into blowing sugar figurines, painting sugar figurines, and molding sugar figurines. The Shenyang Li’s sugar figurine craftsmanship is superb, which boasts an ingenious combination of painting, molding, and blowing, making sugar figurines more diverse and good-looking. Out of her love for the Hongshan Culture, Li Fengyan has tried making “jade pig-shaped dragon” and “C-shaped dragon” using malt sugar, granulated sugar, and rock sugar, allowing tourists from home and abroad to bring the Hongshan Culture of Liaoning back home.
Li Fengyan sent images of jade artifacts from the Hongshan Culture to each international student, and introduced to them the status of the Hongshan Culture within Chinese civilization and its representative artifacts. Then, she patiently explained how to make the “jade pig-shaped dragon” and “C-shaped dragon” using various types of sugar. “First, pour malt sugar, granulated sugar, and rock sugar into a small metal pot and heat until melted. Then, use a metal spoon to scoop up the melted sugar and slowly draw it on the wax board like a brush,” said Li Fengyan as she demonstrated and taught everyone step by step how to outline the jade pig-shaped dragon with a spoon.
Russian international student Shabanov was first introduced to the craftsmanship of sugar figurine making. Under the guidance of Li Fengyan, he carefully outlined the shape of the jade pig-shaped dragon, then filled it with melted sugar. After the sugar had solidified, he carved out the eyes and mouth using a carving knife. Finally, he threaded a bamboo stick dipped in sugar syrup through the big “jade pig-shaped dragon”, and finished making the sugar figurine. Shabanov couldn’t resist biting off a small piece and excitedly said, “It’s sweet but not greasy. It’s absolutely delicious! The sugar-made jade pig-shaped dragon is not only beautiful to look at but also fun to play with and delicious to eat. Learning about the Hongshan Culture through the intangible cultural heritage is both interesting and meaningful.”
The international students held the completed “jade pig-shaped dragon” and “C-shaped dragon” sugar figurines in their hands and took numerous photos. They also paid a special visit to Zhongjie Street in Shenyang City, which has a history of nearly 400 years. They shot videos and uploaded them to their social media platforms, promoting Liaoning’s intangible cultural heritage and Hongshan Culture to more foreign friends.
