A Cultural Symbol - China's New Year Picture
Mianzhou New Year Pictures
Sichuan
Province's Mianzhu region teems with high-quality tissue paper,
which provides good raw material for the production of New Year pictures. At the
end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Mianzhu New Year
pictures began to flourish, and the place became a large manufacture base for
New Year pictures in Southwest China.
Zhuxianzhen New Year pictures
The Zhuxianzhen New Year picture also got its name as it is mainly produced
in Zhuxianzhen Village near Kaifeng
of Central China's Henan
Province. The place began to produce New Year pictures in the Song Dynasty,
and prospered in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Famous writer Lu
Xun once highly lauded the New Year picture produced in the place, saying:
"The carving lines of Zhuxianzhen wood blocks are very macho; it's not
elaborately polished, very unlike those in other places. The wood blocks are
simple, with no extra adornment. The figure painting has very strong color,
without being overbearing. The strong local flavor is typical of wood blocks in
North China."
Foshan
New Year pictures
Foshan New Year's pictures, produced in Guangdong
Province's Foshan, are popular in South China. There are basically three
kinds of New Year pictures in Foshan: original painting, wood block, and wood
block with realistic painting. The high decorative function is the unique
feature of Foshan New Year picture.
Author: Jeff
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