Candy Dragons and Birds: Chinese Sugar Cockerels

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

For many, the taste of childhood is associated with mother's pies, condensed milk and, of course, sugar cockerels. Bright and sweet, how many children's hearts were captivated by these candies. It turns out that the Chinese also know a lot about delicacies: only they have it not just entertainment, but real art. The ancient craft of sugar painting is still revered in the Sichuan province, where you can still see street artists conjuring over caramel masterpieces.

The art of making intricate figurines from melted sugar dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Then it was a ritual sacrifice, the masters drew their inspiration from nature, the animal world, or created pictures on religious themes. Initially, to create drawings, special forms were used, into which sugar syrup was poured, but later Chinese masters learned how to masterfully apply an image using a small bronze spoon. "Sugar" painters, first of all, are real artists, at first they learn to draw skillfully on paper, and only then proceed to experiments with syrup, because it freezes instantly, and the artist has no room for error. Every stroke is rendered accurately and accurately. Chinese masters use white or brown sugar for their paintings, the drawing solidifies on a marble board (which acts as a canvas). A wooden stick is attached to the hardening sugar composition to separate the lollipop from the surface of the board. Such a caramel souvenir costs about 1 yuan (30 cents). As a souvenir, tourists can choose a dragon or a Phoenix bird they like (such figures are most often created by masters).

Unfortunately, the number of "sugar" masters in the Sichuan province is decreasing. The government is concerned that the younger generation is more interested in computer games and modern gadgets, forgetting about traditional crafts. To attract interest in caramel painting, this art form has been listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage.