Sculptor keeps cultural heritage in safe hands

TIANJIN — In a studio adorned with antique charm in Tianjin municipality, Zhang Yu delicately rotated a clay sculpture with his left hand while skillfully carving intricate details with a tool in his right.

Gradually, a "Lucky Star" figure took shape, its face beaming with kindness and joy, while its flowing robes added a sense of movement.

"The Lucky Star held a big gold ingot in his right hand and a ruyi, a symbol of good luck, in his left hand, which means joy and auspiciousness in Chinese culture. It perfectly fits the festive and peaceful atmosphere of Spring Festival," said Zhang, a sixth-generation inheritor of Clay Figure Zhang, a renowned form of intangible cultural heritage in China.