As it was impossible for the two generals to guard him every night, the emperor asked artists to paint their portraits and paste them on the door - thus creating the "door god ," which has become the major subject of many woodcut pictures.
As early as the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, woodcut door pictures were very popular in the Guangzhou and Foshan areas. They were hand painted and carved on door boards during its early period. Later many facsimile copies were modeled on the carved door boards, which gradually developed into the present-day form of New Year woodprints.

Foshan New Year Woodprints prospered in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), but declined in the 1930s.

Artistic appeal

There are three types of Foshan New Year woodprints that are divided by craftsmanship; original pictures, woodprints and hand prints. Stylistically, there are two ways to make an engraving - one is intaglio and the other is relief printing plates. There are several steps to follow: drawing and tracing, block engraving, printing and colouring.

Based on the content theme, these categories are divided yet again into door-god pictures, god images, and customs, as well as various historical figures and opera stories. The respect of sacrifice, prayers of good fortune, and decorative purposes of the common people are all expressed in these extensive subjects.

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