On Nov. 10, 2009, Mr. Liangsheng Qiu, the director and fellowship of China Folklore Photographic Association (CFPA), shot a group of “Huamo” making photos. “Huamo” is a traditional Chinese food made of flour, which is very prevalent in the central and north area of Shanxi province. The warship-style “Huamo” with 1.7 meters long and 0.8 meters high photographed by Mr. Liangsheng Qiu broke out of the old models.

Mr. Liangsheng Qiu has been continually keeping eyes on local conditions and customs of his hometown, and dedicating himself to exploring and preserving the folk cultures. As a director of CFPA, he always insists on enlarging the folklore photographic group in Shanxi to document folkways. For instance, he has conducted a series of activities for Double Seventh Festival in Da Haoying village so far since 2003. There is no doubt that he is playing a leading role in the course of recording China Culture Heritage.

【Culture Background】
The dough modeling art in China has a long history, dating from the Han Dynasty. It originated from sacrifices, to use doughy animals instead of slaughter.

“Huamo” is one of the representatives of the dough modeling art. It can be made in a variety of forms, such as flowers, bird, fish, vegetables, etc, to express wish to a better life, respect to the elders and worship to ancestor.

“Huamo” making is also a contest of skilled hands among the women. All the tools like scissors, wooden comb and so on are an ordinary part of our lives, so the key is your hands. Only experienced people can make a good shape and non-deforming “Huamo”.

Beside aesthetic enjoyment, “Huamo” itself is a kind of delicious food. As both culture and art, “Huamo” has been passed on generation to generation with innovation and creation, and now become a cultural monument in China.