Zhuxian Town－Home of Woodblock New Year Pictures
By admin on 2014-12-16

Mosque in Zhuxian Town

Zhuxian Town is located 20 kilometers south of Kaifeng county in Henan Province. It was said this was the native place of Zhu He who lived during the Warring States. Zhuxian Town witnessed its heyday during the end of the Ming dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty.

The entire town covered an area of 25 square kilometers at that time and the population was more than 200 thousands, with more than 40,000 households. The streets are crisscrossed and general merchandise gathered.

Jialu River divides the entire town into the East Town and the West Town. The East Town was an important city street during both the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. After Qianlong year, the town suffered from flood repeatedly because the Yellow River overflowed.

With a history of over 800 years, Zhuxian Town Woodblock New Year pictures are one of the oldest folk woodblock arts in China.

Woodblock picture

Local people still adopt the traditional techniques to produce New Year pictures now. Zhuxian New Year Picture originated in the Song Dynasty, flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

There used to be more than 300 picture workshops. But they were reduced to no more than 70 at the end of the Qing Dynasty.

The themes vary from portraits of martial and intellectual gods to portraits of spirits. They are classified into three categories: 1. Exorcising ghosts and conferring blessing; 2. Propitious gods and customs; 3. Theatrical and historical legends.

The pictures are very popular due to their bright color, exaggerated images, rough lines and full compositions. Every year on the ninth day of the lunar ninth month, Zhuxian Town holds a New Year Picture fair to commemorate its anniversary. It is also the day to start the printing of its New Year Pictures.