Research On Characteristics Of Folk Cloth-toys In Shanxi And Its Implication To Modern Toy Design

Nowadays, the economic globalization had brought about the globalization of culture and art, which will inevitably lead to the impact of Chinese art and culture. However, we, as the descendants of the Chinese nation, should consider how to integrate traditional culture and folk arts into modern art in the design of modern art. Yes, with the popularity of Barbie doll as well as hello Kitty and Hoodlum rabbit, the Chinese toy industry is facing unprecedented challenges. At present, the forms of Chinese toys are classically influenced by foreign countries, and our designing styles are always in Barbie, Kitty or Hoodlum rabbit's shadow. China, which owns five-thousand-year history and brilliant culture, has many fantastic art-wanders. It is true that the birth of new things will defeat the old ones. However, when we just blindly follow the new things, we should stop to rethink the national culture lying inside our own works.Chinese modern toys often learn from or even imitate the way that foreign toys are made, while it is useful to get nutrition for the traditional crafts from the folk cloth-toys. The study on moral, characteristics and method of folk cloth-toys will do good to the folk-art-molding.Chinese folk- cloth- toys are widely spreading in Shaanxi Province, which have different animal moldings such as cloth tiger, chicken, cattle, sheep, monkeys, rabbits, donkeys, dogs, fish, frogs and so on.These toys have distinct local and national characteristics and are popular both at home and abroad. If the characteristics of folk- cloth-toys in Shaanxi can be adopted to design modern toys, we will be able to develop Chinese toy trade and promote export exchange, which will thus bring about good economic benefits, meet the needs of the international market and is favorable for our economic growth. The present research is bound to cause the revival of handicraft industry and offer economic returns to the handicraftsman. In the meanwhile it will help to make more new employment opportunities and promote economic development and social progress to a certain extent.