The Origin of Silk People in Beijing

In ancient times, Han people in China widely used bamboo and paper as raw materials to make various handicrafts. As early as the Tang Dynasty (AD 6 18-907), colored ties were popular in rural areas of southern Fujian. At first, all kinds of birds, animals, flowers, birds, fish and insects were tied with paper. Later, it showed some popular operas and fairy tales, made lanterns and displayed them everywhere for people to watch. After that, the process of tying lanterns gradually developed, forming colorful tying crafts. According to "Tokyo Dream", in the Northern Song Dynasty, folk artists would cut silk for people, cut brocade for clothes and tie colored knots for people. In the Ming dynasty, some people became silk people.

In the Qing dynasty, silk yarn was cut into birthday stars and magu, which were used as birthday gifts together with peach noodles. Unfortunately, the skills of silk makers were once lost.

Today's Diaosi people in Beijing were born in the mid-1950s after the founding of New China. China was invited to participate in the international doll exhibition held in India. The Ministry of Culture, through the All-China Women's Federation, gave the task of making exhibits to Ge Jing 'an, Li Peifen, Du Chongpu and other comrades. So they collected information from all sides and deliberated repeatedly. Finally, in two months, they successfully trial-produced five works representing the image of minority women, which were sent to the exhibition in time and won favorable comments. Later, the Beijing Art Humanoid Research Group was established, and many new works were published one after another. This diaosi man has a new Chinese style and national style. From the material point of view, foreign human heads are made of gypsum powder, cement and wood, while Beijing Silk People use China silk and silk thread from head to toe, and their faces, costumes and action expressions fully reflect China's style. Because the main raw material for making human figures is colored silk, it is also called "Beijing Silk Man".