Commonly known as dough figurine or glutinous rice figurine, dough sculpture boasts a long-standing history dating back to the Han Dynasty, spanning over 2,000 years. Made mainly from wheat flour and glutinous rice flour through exquisite handcrafting techniques, its works feature vivid shapes and bright elegant colors. As a traditional folk craft embedded with folk customs, auspicious implications and artistic appreciation value, it was officially inscribed on the second batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2008.
面塑，俗称捏面人、江米人，历史源远流长，早在汉代便有史料记载，至今已有两千多年发展历史。它以面粉、江米粉为核心原料，凭借精巧纯熟的手工技法塑造而成，作品造型灵动、色彩明快雅致，是兼具民俗内涵、吉祥寓意与艺术观赏价值的传统民间手工技艺，于2008年正式入选第二批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
Born in 1979 in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, Meng Jie is the fourth-generation inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture and a municipal-level representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage. Having devoted himself to dough sculpture art for more than thirty years, he stays true to his original aspiration and delves deep into this craft. He inherits traditional Chinese culture with ingenuity.
蒙杰，1979年出生，河北张家口人，涿鹿面塑第四代传承人、市级非物质文化遗产代表性传承人。深耕面塑艺术三十余年，他坚守初心、潜心钻研，以指尖匠心传承中华传统文脉。
Hailing from a dough sculpture family, Meng Jie has fully inherited the century-old essence of Zhuolu dough sculpture. He draws strengths from northern and southern dough sculpture styles, integrating the grand momentum of northern art with the delicate grace of southern craftsmanship, and has formed his own distinctive artistic style.
出身面塑世家的蒙杰，完整承袭涿鹿面塑百年技艺精髓，博采南北面塑之长，将北方艺术的雄浑大气与南方工艺的细腻温婉相融，形成独树一帜的个人艺术风格。
He has comprehensive and solid professional skills, especially excelling in sculpting ancient warrior figures, on-site portrait making and miniature dough sculpture creation. Proficient in basic techniques such as pinching, rolling, kneading, lifting and flattening, he also uses special small bamboo tools to finish elaborate procedures including dotting, cutting, carving and scoring. With nimble manipulation, he can shape vivid artistic images out of plain dough in a short time.
他技艺全面且功底深厚，尤为擅长古典武将塑造、真人现场肖像塑形与面塑微雕创作。熟练掌握捏、搓、揉、掀、擀等基础手法，配合特制小竹刀完成点、切、刻、划等精细工序，方寸面团在掌心流转雕琢，片刻便能塑造出栩栩如生的艺术形象。
His works are highly realistic with lifelike facial expressions and exquisite workmanship, combining traditional folk charm and modern aesthetic taste. He creates diverse themes with vivid and lifelike characters. On-site portrait sculpture is his signature craft, which involves complicated and rigorous production processes. Costumes are sculpted layer by layer from inside to outside with more than ten procedures, presenting distinct three-dimensional layers, delicate textures and extremely high restoration degree of real figures. In 2010, he independently developed a formula for cold porcelain dough, solving long-standing industrial problems of traditional dough sculptures such as mildew, cracking and poor preservation, and greatly extending the service life of finished works. He empowers traditional crafts with innovation and injects new vitality into the inheritance of this intangible heritage.
其作品写实感极强、神态刻画传神、做工精巧细腻，兼具传统民俗韵味与现代审美风格。创作题材丰富广泛，人物塑造气韵生动、形神兼备。其中真人现场塑像是其核心特色技艺，制作工序繁复严谨，人物服饰由内至外分层雕琢，单一件服饰便要历经十余道工序层层贴合，层次立体分明，纹理质感细腻，人物整体还原度极高。2010年，蒙杰自主研发冷瓷面配比配方，攻克了传统面塑易发霉、易开裂、难保存的行业难题，大幅延长作品留存年限，以创新赋能传统技艺，为面塑非遗传承注入全新活力。
With superb craftsmanship, Meng Jie has won wide recognition across the industry and been invited many times to record programs for CCTV Spring Festival Gala. In 2019, he launched public welfare dough sculpture courses at Bayi Yuquan Middle School in Beijing and won the Second Prize in subject teaching in the same year. He holds multiple professional memberships: member of Beijing Toy Association, member of Shijingshan Folk Literature and Art Association of Beijing, member of Zhangjiakou Arts and Crafts Association, and member of Ethnic Art Committee of Eastern and Western Artists Association (New York). In 2006, his work Thousand-Handed Guanyin was selected by China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation for public welfare auction, and he was awarded the honorary title of Loving Public Welfare Person in China Poverty Alleviation Campaign. His classic work Four Heavenly Kings has been permanently collected by Eastern and Western Artists Association.
从业多年，蒙杰凭借精湛技艺收获业界广泛认可，曾多次参与北京春晚节目录制。2019年，他走进北京八一玉泉中学开设面塑公益课堂，同年斩获学科教学二等奖。目前其技艺获多项行业协会认可：北京玩具协会会员、北京市石景山区民间文艺家协会会员、张家口市工艺美术协会会员、东西方艺术家【纽约】民族艺术委员会委员。2006年，其作品《千手观音》被中国扶贫基金会选中参与公益拍卖，他也获评“扶贫中国行爱心人士”荣誉称号；经典作品《四大天王》被东西方艺术家协会永久收藏。
His masterpiece Battle of Flooding the Seven Armies features exquisite craftsmanship. The cloak lines of Guan Yu are natural and smooth, and the weapons held by Zhou Cang look sharp and powerful. He skillfully uses wheat straw filaments to depict water ripples, fully presenting the charm of traditional Chinese classical aesthetics. During the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Winter Olympic Games, Meng Jie created Bing Dwen Dwen dough sculptures on site at Zhangjiakou Exhibition Hall. The delicate and lovely works were perfectly in line with the Winter Olympic theme. He also offered on-site intangible heritage experience courses, teaching tourists to make Bing Dwen Dwen dough sculptures in an easy and interesting way. His traditional craft attracted numerous visitors to watch and experience, winning unanimous praise from people of all ages. In addition, his series work Chinese Zodiac Welcomes Winter Olympics ingeniously combines traditional zodiac culture with Winter Olympic elements, winning wide popularity among friends at home and abroad.
代表作《水淹七军》工艺精妙绝伦，关羽披风纹路自然流畅，周仓兵刃寒光尽显，巧用麦秸丝勾勒水波纹细节，中式古典美学意境尽显。在北京—张家口冬奥会举办期间，蒙杰于张家口展馆现场创作冬奥主题冰墩墩面塑，造型精致立体、形象憨态灵动，高度契合冬奥主题。同时他亲身开展非遗体验教学，手把手指导游客制作冰墩墩面塑，简单易上手的体验形式趣味性十足。传统非遗技艺吸引大批群众驻足观看、亲身体验，收获众人一致好评，老少皆宜，现场氛围浓厚。此外，他创作的《十二生肖迎冬奥》系列面塑，将传统生肖文化与冬奥时代元素巧妙融合，深受海内外友人的喜爱与赞誉。
Representative Works
Four Heavenly Kings (Good Weather)/四大天王【风调雨顺】
2021
Dough, iron wire, binding tape/面泥、铁丝、绑带
25×45cm
Based on the image of Four Heavenly Kings, this work implies the auspicious meaning of favorable weather. They symbolize national peace, prosperity and abundant harvests. With grand shapes, solemn expressions and exquisite craftsmanship, it inherits traditional folk culture and expresses good wishes for stable life and peaceful times.
作品以四大天王为创作原型，蕴含风调雨顺吉祥寓意。四大天王各司其职，寓意国泰民安、五谷丰登。人物造型古朴大气，神态肃穆威严，工艺细腻精巧，传承传统民俗文化，寄予世人生活安稳、诸事顺遂、天下祥和的美好愿景。
Defeating Seven Armies/水淹七军
2020
面泥、铁丝、绑带Dough, iron wire, binding tape
30×23cm
Derived from the classic Three Kingdoms historical story, it vividly shapes characters and restores the grand war scene. It depicts heroic spirits, inherits Three Kingdoms culture and embodies the traditional spirit of loyalty, courage and wisdom.
取材三国经典历史典故水淹七军，生动塑造战场人物神态与气势，还原经典战役壮阔场面。刻画人物英勇无畏的英雄气概，还原历史人物风骨，传承三国历史文化，彰显忠义果敢、智勇双全的传统精神。
Chinese Zodiac Welcomes Winter Olympics/生肖迎冬奥
2022
面泥、铁丝、绑带Dough, iron wire, binding tape
25×15cm
It combines traditional Chinese zodiac culture with Winter Olympics ice and snow sports elements. It integrates folk customs and sports vitality, conveys the spirit of perseverance, wishes the Winter Olympics a complete success and prays for the prosperity of the motherland.
融合中华十二生肖传统文化与北京冬奥冰雪运动主题，将灵动生肖形象搭配冰雪运动元素，喜迎冬奥盛会。兼具传统民俗韵味与体育竞技活力，传递拼搏向上精神，祝愿冬奥顺利举办，祈愿祖国蒸蒸日上、繁荣富强。
Peking Opera Character Huang Zhong/京剧人物黄忠
2023
Dough, iron wire, binding tape/面泥、铁丝、绑带
25×8cm
Inspired by classic Peking Opera Dingjun Mountain, it shapes the heroic image of veteran general Huang Zhong, showing his courage and spirit. It carries forward traditional Peking Opera culture and advocates patriotism, loyalty and perseverance.
取材京剧经典剧目《定军山》，雕琢老将黄忠人物形象，凸显老当益壮、勇武豪迈的英雄气质，还原戏曲人物独特神韵。弘扬老将报国忠义、自强不息的崇高品格，传承京剧国粹文化与爱国忠义传统美德。
Teahouse/茶馆
2026
面泥、铁丝、绑带Dough, iron wire, binding tape
150×15cm
Adapted from Lao She’s classic work Teahouse, it reproduces the folk customs and life scenes of old Beijing teahouses in dough sculpture form. It reflects social changes and human feelings, inherits old Beijing folk culture and shows the profound cultural heritage of classic literature.
改编自老舍经典文学作品《茶馆》，以面塑形式复刻老北京茶馆市井百态，还原旧时京城烟火生活与时代风貌。刻画世间人情冷暖，映照时代变迁，传承老北京民俗市井文化，尽显经典文学独有的人文底蕴与岁月情怀。
Zhuolu Dough Sculpture · Works by Meng Jie: Honor of Kings Figurines/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-作品；游戏王者荣耀手办
Zhuolu Dough Sculpture · Works by Meng Jie: Scenes of Traditional Folk Trades (Partial)/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-作品；民间365行局部；剃头、磨剪子戗菜刀、北京冰糖葫芦
Zhuolu Dough Sculpture · Works by Meng Jie: Scenes of Traditional Folk Trades (Partial)/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-作品；民间365行局部；剃头、磨剪子戗菜刀、北京冰糖葫芦
Honorary Certificates/荣誉证书
In 2019, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, opened dough sculpture art classes at Beijing Bayi Yuquan Middle School to teach traditional intangible heritage crafts, and was awarded the title of Excellent Teacher/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2019年北京八一玉泉中学开设面塑艺术班并获优秀老师称呼
In 2010, Meng Jie was recognized by the Eastern and Western Artists Association, became a member, and served as a committee member of the Ethnic Art Committee of the association based in New York./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2010获得东西方艺术家协会认可并加入获东西方艺术家协会【纽约】民族艺术家委员会‘委员’
Zhuolu Dough Sculpture · Meng Jie: His work Four Heavenly Kings‑Good Weather for Peaceful Harvest has been collected by the Association of East‑West Artists./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-作品四大天王【风调雨顺】被东西方艺术家协会收藏
In January 2026, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, exchanged and shared traditional dough sculpting skills with the professional exchange group of Hong Kong early childhood education leaders at Shijingshan Academy./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2026年1月在石景山书院与香港幼教领袖京港专业交流团分享交流面塑技艺.
In April 2013, Meng Jie was invited to attend the World Internet Conference in Beijing and created colorful portrait dough sculptures for guests on site./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2013年4月北京应邀参加国际互联网大会并为嘉宾现场彩塑肖像.
涿鹿面塑蒙杰-由联合国世界非物质文化遗产保护基金会、美国集邮集团联合出品的“一带一路·世界邮票上的中国艺术名家”系列珍藏册，2017年9月起开始面向全国非遗艺术家、书画名家征集作品，是配合国家“一带一路”文化出海的公益项目。蒙杰凭借其面塑技艺，入选了2018年度系列名录/ Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough SculptureThe collection album The Belt and Road · Chinese Art Masters on World Stamps was jointly issued by the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation of the United Nations and America Philatelic Group. It started collecting works from national intangible heritage inheritors and famous painters and calligraphers nationwide in September 2017, serving as a public welfare cultural project to promote Chinese culture overseas under the Belt and Road Initiative. With his exquisite dough sculpting craftsmanship, Meng Jie was successfully selected into the list of art masters of this series in 2018.
In February 2010, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to attend the Spring Festival celebration at the Canadian Embassy in China, where he demonstrated dough sculpting skills and made a portrait sculpture for the ambassador on site./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2010年2月应邀参加加拿大使馆迎新春活动并现场为大使塑像.
In April 2013, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to attend the International Internet Conference in Beijing, demonstrating dough sculpture art and making colorful portrait sculptures for guests on the spot./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2013年4月北京应邀参加国际互联网大会并为嘉宾现场彩塑肖像
On April 28, 2010, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited by the Eastern and Western Artists Association to attend the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning with participants from ten ASEAN countries. He gave on-site craft demonstrations and created portrait dough sculptures for distinguished guests on the spot./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2010年4月28日应东西方协会邀请参加东盟十国参与的南宁东盟博览会并现场展演现场为嘉宾现场塑像
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to participate in cultural exchange activities at the Canadian Embassy in China, showcasing traditional dough sculpture art and promoting friendly cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-参加2010年加拿大使馆活动
In 2020, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, participated in the Beijing Cultural and Creative Competition and won the Excellent Award./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2020年参加北京文化创意大赛并获优秀奖
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, creates various intangible cultural heritage dough sculptures at his studio in Wulituo Folk Custom Exhibition Hall, Shijingshan District./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-石景山五里坨民俗陈列馆面塑工作室制作面塑作品
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, creates various intangible cultural heritage dough sculptures at his studio in Wulituo Folk Custom Exhibition Hall, Shijingshan District.
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, participated in the Guochao Folk Custom Market in Mentougou, Beijing, and demonstrated traditional dough sculpture skills on site./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-参加北京门头沟国潮民俗市集
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, took part in the intangible cultural heritage gathering at Beijing China Millennium Monument and accepted media interviews./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2019年北京中华世纪坛非遗文化市集并接受采访
In January 2025, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, participated in intangible cultural heritage performances in Fengtai District, Beijing./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2025年1月北京丰台区参加非遗展演
In October 2025, Meng Jie spread Zhuolu dough sculpture culture to Nankai University in Tianjin, sharing and exchanging traditional dough sculpting skills with students./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2025年10月涿鹿面塑走进天津南开大学并与学习分享交流面塑技艺
During the 2022 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Winter Olympic Games, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, created Winter Olympics-themed dough artworks on site, and interacted with guests by offering hands-on experiences and teaching traditional dough sculpting skills/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-参加北京-张家口冬奥会现场制作并与来宾现场体验互动。
In January 2017, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to take part in the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala held by Beijing Radio Station./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2017年1月应邀参加北京人民广播电台春节晚会直播
In January 2023, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to record the program This Is Beijing on Beijing TV at his dough sculpture studio in Wulituo Folk Custom Exhibition Hall, Shijingshan District, Beijing./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2023年1月在北京石景山五里坨民俗陈列馆面塑工作室应邀参加北京电视台北京新闻节目‘这里是北京’录制
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, regularly attends regular meetings of Shijingshan District Association in Beijing to exchange industry trends and discuss the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-参加北京市石景山协会例会
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to participate in the exchange activity of Zhangjiakou Arts and Crafts Association. He discussed the inheritance and innovation direction of dough sculpture skills with colleagues of the association, shared his own practical experience, and promoted the in-depth integration of local arts and crafts industry and intangible cultural heritage./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2020年参加张家口工美协会交流活动
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, actively carries out “intangible cultural heritage entering campus” activities. He enters many primary and secondary schools as well as universities, popularizes dough sculpture knowledge and teaches dough sculpture skills to students through on-site demonstrations and hands-on teaching, allowing intangible cultural heritage to take root in campuses and nourish the growth of teenagers./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-面塑技艺走进校园
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to create a personalized dough sculpture portrait for the Canadian Ambassador, presenting vivid images with exquisite craftsmanship and promoting friendly cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2010年为加拿大大使塑像
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, took part in the Spring Festival intangible cultural heritage exhibition in Shijingshan District, displaying fine dough sculpture works and showing the charm of traditional folk culture./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-参加石景山区春节非遗展览
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to enter the bank to carry out a dough sculpture experience and sharing activity with bank employees and customers. He guided everyone to make dough sculptures on site, allowing everyone to get close to the charm of intangible cultural heritage dough sculpture and pass on traditional folk culture./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-与银行员工及客户分享体验制作面塑
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, opened intangible cultural heritage dough sculpture courses at the Arrow Tower of Zhengyang Gate in Beijing, teaching traditional dough sculpting techniques and creative concepts, and promoting the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage along the Central Axis./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-北京正阳门箭楼开设面塑技艺课程
During the 2022 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Winter Olympic Games, Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, was invited to participate in Winter Olympics-themed live programs at the Golden Apple Cultural Courtyard in Shijingshan District, Beijing. He created Winter Olympics-themed dough artworks on site, demonstrating the charm of intangible cultural heritage skills and helping promote Winter Olympics culture./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-北京石景山金苹果小院参加北京-张家口冬奥会节目直播
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, delivered professional dough sculpture training courses at Gehua Base in Qinhuangdao, Hebei./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-河北秦皇岛歌华基地面塑培训
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, came to the Golden Apple Courtyard in Shijingshan District, Beijing, to carry out a dough sculpture skill sharing activity, teaching dough sculpture techniques on site and allowing more people to experience the cultural charm of intangible cultural heritage dough sculpture./涿鹿面塑蒙杰-石景山金苹果小院分享面塑技艺
Meng Jie, inheritor of Zhuolu Dough Sculpture, participated in the “Exploring Intangible Cultural Heritage in Beijing” Exchange Event for Young ICH Inheritors from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Inner Mongolia held in Beijing from May 25 to 29, 2025. He discussed inheritance and innovation with ICH colleagues from the four regions, demonstrated dough sculpture skills, and exchanged creative experiences, promoting the cross-regional integrated development of intangible cultural heritage/涿鹿面塑蒙杰-2025年5月参加北京-天津-河北-内蒙交流活动
