Pictures That Tell Stories

In old China, education was limited to a small group of elites, and the majority was illiterate. Woodcut pictures based on theatrical works and folk stories were, therefore, very popular, being the most amusing and easily comprehensible.

Taohuawu has many such woodblock engravings. They mostly tell stories of loyalty, benevolence, filial piety, righteousness and retribution, as a means to instilling morals and norms of conducts. "Yang Family Generals," comprises two engravings, each containing eight pictures that tell an episode in the Yang family story. The 16 pictures, spanning the entire Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), depict how the three generations of the Yang family fought foreign invaders and defended their country. Another engraving in this category describes the military genius and eventual tragedy of Yue Fei, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), who was wrongfully accused, framed and executed. Yue Fei has since remained an heroic figure in Chinese history, and Qin Hui, the vicious minister who caused his death, a target of condemnation and contempt.

All these engravings exhort people to treat others kindly and with respect, as this kind of treatment will surely be reciprocated. In old China, such picture stories and other folk art forms, rather than books, were the medium for disseminating the philosophy of life, morals and social etiquette.

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