Nianhua: A traditional Chinese folk encyclopedia

/ A nianhua work depicting Zhao Gongming and the Burning Lamp Taoist, characters from the Chinese novel The Creation of the Gods, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) / Photo/IC
Nianhua

Origins and development

Nianhua, or Chinese New Year pictures, are chromatic woodblock prints that boast a long history dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 24). It developed into a formal art form during the Northern Song period (960-1127) thanks to the flourishing handicraft industry, thriving folk cultures and maturing woodblock printing technology.

Origins and development
Stories of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Photo/IC

The Nianhua industry grew rapidly during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with the evolving polychrome printing technique. Meanwhile, several prestigious bases were established and quickly rose to fame, such as Yangliuqing in Tianjin, Yangjiabu in Shandong province, and Taohuawu in Suzhou.

Origins and development
Intellectual and martial gods of wealth, work of Yangjiabu, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Photo/IC

The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) witnessed the heyday of the New Year paintings, with their rich subjects, multiple forms, refined techniques and popularity in the marketplace. Since the founding of the new China in 1949, this art form has been revitalized by integrating modern and traditional ideas.

Origins and development
Neo-nianhua works
Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

Subjects and types

Renowned as the “encyclopedia of folk customs”, nianhua works cover a wide range of subjects that can be divided into four categories:

Subjects and types
Nianhua works depicting the Immortals of Harmony and Unity (Hehe erxian)
Photo/namoc.org

Immortals and auspicious items

Making up a large percentage of the total, this category covers fabled animals, flowers and objects associated with wealth and felicity, to convey the desire to ward off bad luck and welcome good fortune.

Immortals and auspicious items
A nianhua work using a pun to convey a wish for wealth and honor
Photo/namoc.org

Secular life

Nianhua works with secular life as their subject matter record people’s daily routines, production activities, customs, news and anecdotes.

Secular life
Cattle Busy with Spring Plough
Photo/IC

Beautiful people and children

Also a popular subject matter for nianhua paintings. Images of children and great beauties imply good wishes for fertility and a happy marriage.

Beautiful people and children
Mother and Children Frolic Together, work of Suzhou Taohuawu
Photo/IC

Stories and tales

A major part of this category draws inspiration from historical and folk stories, legends, novels and traditional Chinese operas.

Stories and tales
A nianhua work illustrates a scene from the folk tale Legend of the White Snake
Photo/IC

Genres and functions

There are a variety of genres of nianhua designed for particular architectural layouts and functions, such as those put up to decorate doors, walls, kangs (a heatable brick bed in North China), windows or even in kitchens.

Genres and functions
War in Youzhou, an illustration of the Peking Opera repertoire. This horizontal-format picture is put up to decorate the walls around a kang.
Photo/IC

Production proces

Generally speaking, four processes are involved in the completion of a piece of nianhua. First of all, the craftsman prepares an outline drawing of the pattern on a piece of thin paper.

Production process
The outline drawing of a nianhua work
Photo/Culture and Tourism Bureau of Tianjin Xiqing District

They then stick the paper onto a flat board to engrave a mirrored image of the outline drawing in relief, before printing several samples out.

Production process
The engraving process of the modeling board
Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

Then he/she designates the color scheme, and deconstructs the pattern into several parts (usually no more than five)- each of which will bear the same color - and carves the same number of wood plate reliefs accordingly.

Production process
Brushing color onto a carved modeling board
Photo/Culture and Tourism Bureau of Tianjin Xiqing District

After brushing the carved wood boards with their designated colors, a set of color plates is finished. The craftsman puts white papers on a plate and rubs them firmly so the pattern is impressed. When all the plates have been brushed, the color New Year painting is finished.

Production process
A craftsman brushes the pattern on the paper.
Photo/IC

Major production bases

Of the key nianhua production bases, four enjoy the most renown, including Yangliuqing in Tianjin, Taohuawu in Suzhou, Yangjiabuin Shandong province, and Mianzhu in Sichuan province.

Major production bases
Beautiful woman and children holding flowers
Photo/Culture and Tourism Bureau of Tianjin Xiqing District

Yangliuqing, Tianjin

Yanliuqing, the leading nianhua brand in northern China, is well-known for its depiction of folk stories and traditional operas, the characters of which are presented artistically with bountiful colors, smooth outlines and a plain style.

Yangliuqing, Tianjin
Annual Surplus, a work from Yangliuqing
Photo/Culture and Tourism Bureau of Tianjin Xiqing District

Taohuawu, Jiangsu province

Absorbing advanced painting techniques from home and abroad, Taohuawu combines architecture with beautiful scenery and interesting stories and customs, presenting an exquisite visual effect.

Taohuawu, Jiangsu province
The New Railway in Shanghai, work of Suzhou Taohuawu
Photo/IC

Yangjiabu, Shandong province

The Yangjiabu products are distinguished for their extensive outlines, simple modeling and strong colors. Those decorating the walls around kangs are the most representative of this style.

Yangjiabu, Shandong province
Zhangxian (the god of fertility in traditional Chinese folk tales) Shoots Tiangou (a mythical animal doing harm to children), a Yangjiabu work
Photo/IC

Mianzhu, Sichuan province

Renowned for their varied door gods and paintings of children, the Mianzhu school adopts the Gouran technique as its main method: that is, printing out just the outline of the pattern and then painting the colors with brush pens, which is quite different from the one employed by Taohuawu. The stamping method is also widely used in its works.

Mianzhu, Sichuan province
Marriage of Mouse, a Sichuan Mianzhu work
Photo/Official Weibo account of Mianzhu Nianhua Museum
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