Rice Dough Figurines

Make a jianzi 毽子!
June 21, 2016
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In this activity, students sculpt their own figurines made from glutinous rice flour based on the Journey to the West figurines found in the Museum Bento box Meet Monkey: A Legend from China.

Museum Bento Monkey King dough figurine

Dough figurine, Monkey King

Dough sculpture is a popular Chinese folk art that has existed for over 4,000 years. According to legend, the craft was started by the military strategist Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms Era (AD 220-280). While trying to cross the Han River, he was blocked by gusting winds and high waters. To appease the angry river gods, Zhuge Liang ordered forty-nine dough heads stuffed with meat to be thrown into the river. At once, the winds calmed and the waters retreated so the armies could pass. Since then, the Chinese have made little figures sculpted of dough to display at temples, weddings and other festivals.

NOTE: This activity is adapted from the dough figurine recipe at the Chinese Language School: http://goo.gl/S00eKo. 

Materials

  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 3 3/4 cups white flour
  • 1 tsp. alum
  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • 1/2 cup glutinous rice flour (available in any Asian market)
  • toothpicks
  • icing colour (for baking)

Process

  1. Dissolve salt and alum in water.
  2. Mix white flour and rice flour in separate bowl. Pour in alum-salt mixture and mix well. Dough will be stiff.
  3. Knead dough on unfloured surface until it becomes pliable.
  4. Roll dough into golf ball sized pieces and flatten with palm of hand.
  5. Place flattened dough balls into boiling water until they begin to float. Remove them to cool. They should be glossy and slightly sticky.
  6. When pieces are cool, work in colouring until even.
  7. Dough can be refrigerated until ready to use. Before use, let warm to room temperature.
  8. Sculpt dough into different shapes and figures. Use toothpicks to hold object together.
  9. Let dough dry. This can take several days to a week. If desired, coat object with clear nail polish to preserve it.

Language Arts Extension: Have students write a story about their object. Does their object represent a specific character? If so, what is his or her personality like? What does their character do in the story?

Culture Extension: Watch this video of master sculptor Zhang Bao-lin. After watching, have the students discuss what the video tells them about dough sculptures and the artists who make them.