The "Bestselling Figurine" from a Millennium Ago

Yuhua Ni Jiao Jiao, one of the representative traditional folk arts in Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, contains the deep essence of Eastern culture.

Yuhua Ni Jiao Jiao, also known as "Opera Figurines," "Wa Wa Whistle," or "Yuhuazhai Clay Sculpture," is a traditional Chinese clay toy passed down through generations. Fired at low temperatures, it can produce sound, possessing both acoustic and ornamental properties. Because it sounds with a lingering and melodious hooting when blown, it is called "Ni Jiao Jiao" (mud whistle). The shapes are plump, archaic, and concise, mostly featuring dramatic historical and mythological figures as themes, using colors such as red, green, yellow, black, white, and blue.

Yuhua Ni Jiao Jiao clay figurines depicting the four main characters from Journey to the West

The history of Yuhua Ni Jiao Jiao is very long. It is said that the ancestors in the Yuhuazhai area could make these whistles as early as the Neolithic era. It originated from the daily life and production of ordinary working people, serving as an entertainment tool to add a touch of fun to the monotonous and simple rural life. Back then, its popularity among children was no less than that of today's high-tech toys.