If you've ever attended a temple fair or visited a food or night market in China, you've likely seen sugar paintings or sugar figurines being sold to enthusiastic onlookers. Both are examples of Chinese sugar art, a traditional folk art with a rich history spanning hundreds of years. Let's explore the background, history, and techniques involved in this fascinating edible craft.
**Sugar Painting**
Sugar painting (糖画 tánghuà) was once a vibrant part of street culture in the past. Although it is less common today, you can still find it at temple fairs during the Chinese New Year, in certain parks, and at select shops in Beijing.
These edible "paintings" are crafted by boiling saccharose and maltose, and a critical aspect of creating these intricate shapes is controlling the temperature accurately. If the temperature is too high, the syrup becomes too runny to shape; if it's too low, the syrup hardens and becomes challenging to mold. The hot sugar syrup is drizzled onto a marble slab in the desired design, solidifying as it cools, which adds another important element to perfecting a sugar painting: speed!
The execution of sugar painting must be done smoothly in one continuous motion, without any interruptions. Sugar painters do not use stencils; instead, they rely on patterns they have committed to memory.
The most common designs include dragons, phoenixes, and the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, although these folk artists can also create various animals and flowers. Some sugar paintings can be finished in as little as one minute! Once completed, a bamboo skewer is pressed into the syrup, and after the sugar painting cools, it is lifted off the marble slab with a spatula-like tool.
Sugar painting can be traced back to the Ming dynasty, when syrup was used to create Buddha statues for religious ceremonies. During the Qing dynasty, this art form was simplified and became more widespread, with vendors crafting various patterns symbolizing good luck and prosperity, making it a beloved snack among children.
In 2008, sugar painting was recognized as one of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage items. While it may not be frequently seen on the streets today, the artistry continues to be handed down through generations, and for many Chinese people, these edible artworks evoke fond childhood memories.
**Sugar Figurines**
Sugar figurines (糖人 tángrén), which translates to "sugar people," also have origins in the Ming dynasty. These figurines are created by blowing air into heated sugar syrup. Made from sucrose and maltose, the syrup is warmed to a specific temperature, after which the artist tears off a piece and kneads it into a ball. A hole is made to insert a straw, and the artist blows air through it to inflate the syrup ball. As the ball expands, it can be skillfully pinched into various shapes, including flowers, animals, insects, and even human figures.
According to one legend, sugar figurines began with Liu Ji (also known as Liu Bowen), a minister during the Ming dynasty who escaped a death sentence from Zhu Yuanzhang (the first Ming emperor). After his escape, he met an old man carrying a basket of sugar figurines. They exchanged clothes, and subsequently, Liu Ji lived under an alias, selling the figurines to make a living. He started creating adorable animal shapes that delighted children, leading many to request he teach them his craft. Thus, the skill was passed down and is believed to have a history of over 600 years.
Let's delve deeper into the background, history, and skills involved in this fascinating edible art.