Folk toys and instruments are a valued part of Chinese tradition which capture the beliefs and customs of the ancient society. Each region and nationality within China has different toys and instruments which are imprinted within their heritage and culture.

Folk toys are important in understanding Chinese culture and creativity in passed periods of history. Ancient Chinese toys are also favoured by adults for decoration and memories. They often express the hopes, ideals and desires of the society they were designed in. Folk toys are still popular, particularly in rural villages, with many new designs and features creating a fresh and vibrant atmosphere to this ancient part of Chinese culture.

Toys for children’s amusement can be traced back to the Neolithic Period (10000-2000 BC), where small clay marbles with carved designs have been found.

Small clay figurines and masks were popular during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), have been discovered in many ruins from earlier periods. Figurines often featured exaggerated and humourous expressions and details. The figurines differed from other statues found in tombs from this period.

Silk puppets and sculptures made from wood and porcelain were favoured by children in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Porcelain figurines were also widely collected by adults and were known for their detailed patterns and smooth, fragile textures.

Folk toys reached their peak in the Qing Dynasty with new shapes and patterns influenced by the western world. The techniques and skills from traditional toy making were combined with new, modern patterns. Common sculptures included fairies, Buddha, tigers and Chinese spirits. New materials such as bamboo and cloth quickly became popular with the younger generation. 

Festival toys are widely enjoyed today and help preserve the heritage of Chinese folk toys. They usually involve flowery patterns and vivid colours. During the Lantern Festival, lanterns shaped as animals and plants are customary to purchase. Kites are in wide distribution during the Pure Brightness Festival.

Cloth tigers are very popular as a gift for a small child’s birthday and are collected by adults for their sentimental value and fine craftsmanship. Cloth tigers are made from felt material and filled with cotton wool. They feature exquisite and finely detailed embroidered patterns. The tiger is a symbol for peace and good luck. It is thought that the tiger will keep the child safe through its infant years.

Shadow and silk puppets are also a common folk toy available today. Shadow puppets are made from coloured cardboard or hardened sheets of plastic and attached to strings or sticks. The scenery for shadow puppets demonstrates the attitudes and prevailing culture of the time.   

Chinese folk toys have prevailed through modernity and western influence on society. They display the simplistic creativity of people and their desire for amusement and entertainment. Folk toys are a prevalent part of China's heritage and will continue to amuse both children and adults.

Chinese traditional folk instruments are an important part of Chinese traditional culture and their aesthetic value is slowly being recognized by the rest of the world.

Folk instruments can be grouped into eight categories depending on the material of their construction. They are silk, bamboo, wood, stone, metal, clay, gourd and hide.

Silk is used mainly in string instruments. Traditionally, the strings of instruments were made from twisted silk rather than nylon or metal.

Instruments made from bamboo are commonly woodwind instruments. Oboes and reed pipes are predominantly featured in folk music. Zhudi, the bamboo flute, is believed to be the oldest Chinese instrument with relics being found from nine thousand years ago.

Wood instruments were among the first instruments to be created in China and have barely changed since their origin. There are only two woodwind instruments used in Chinese folk craft. The Suona is an oboe with a metal bell at the top. The guan is also an oboe but without a bell.
 
Traditional folk chimes called Bianzhong are often made from stone and are accompanied with a heavy mallet and hung by ropes. Each stone has a different melodic tone.

Metal instruments are popular in folk music and include cymbals, gongs and bells. Bells from the Zhou Dynasty (1100-256 BC) are commonly heard in traditional Chinese music.

Clay instruments are rare within traditional Chinese music. The Xun is an ancient clay wind instrument that was used to begin the music in the Confucian shrine ceremony.

Gourd was used for many instruments as it is a natural resonator. The Gourd is believed to be the first cultivated plant to be used in music.

Drums producing a variety of different sounds are made from hide/leather stretched over the top of a wooden base. The hide produces a loud, acoustic sound. 

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), many instruments were banned and only revolutionary folk music was allowed to be played. Only recently have scholars and musicians been able to connect with traditional folk music again. China is now recognizing the importance of protecting its ancient culture including its traditional music from all regions.

Both Chinese folk toys and instruments are traditional crafts of China which act as a window into the ever changing history and culture of China.