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New Year woodblock engraving, a type of watercolor
block printing, is a folk art that dates back hundreds of years. The whole
process includes drawing, block cutting, printing and color processing.
Woodblock engravings became popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and were an
integral feature of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Where
Peach Blossoms Bloom
Taohuawu, in the garden city of Suzhou in southern China, literally means
Peach Blossom Basin. To the Chinese people, peach blossoms symbolize tranquility
and beauty.
Taohuawu produced many folk artists. The area became known for its woodblock
printing techniques during the Ming Dynasty, when many woodcuts and
illustrations for novels and theatrical scenarios originated in Taohuawu. By the
Qing Dynasty, its woodblock printing techniques had become widely used for the
production of New Year pictures, which were wholesaled from Taohuawu, not only
to other parts of China, but also to Southeast Asia and Japan. Many masterpieces
were produced at that time.
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