China News Service, Chongqing, February 10th: Liang Ping’s woodblock New Year paintings are “new” to welcome the Spring Festival
China News Service reporter Zhong Yi
"In order to attract young people, I tried to design a batch of novel patterns of "Persimmon Persimmon Ruyi". Unexpectedly, the effect was surprisingly good." Putting the palm-sized New Year pictures into the photo frame, the 58-year-old Chongqing Liangping woodblock New Year pictures are national-level Xu Jiahui, the representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, said that New Year pictures carrying beautiful meanings are upright and innovative, and are beautifying life in more diverse forms.
On February 6, the national intangible cultural heritage Liangping Woodblock New Year Pictures launched a framed version of "Persimmon Ruyi". Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai
New Year pictures are a unique style of painting in China, which imply joy and auspiciousness and are widely circulated among the people. Many places have the traditional custom of posting New Year pictures during the Lunar New Year, which expresses people's vision for the new year.
The Liangping woodblock New Year paintings, which originated during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, are color-registered woodblock prints. They are unique in their bright and calm images, elegant but not flattering. The most unique feature is that the characters, regardless of gender, all have an oval stroke on their faces and cheeks. Taohong, known as "open face", was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.
Xu Jiahui, who has been guarding this craft for more than 40 years, said that making New Year pictures seems simple, but in fact it requires nearly 30 processes such as engraving, steaming paper, brushing, and overprinting. A large-sized New Year painting requires more than a dozen color printings, which takes more than a month. The more complicated the process, the more patient and careful it is to be patient and not sloppy at all. "Only by adhering to traditional techniques can we create works with strong colors and distinct layers."
Recently, when a reporter from China News Service visited, Xu Jiahui had just participated in three New Year goods exhibitions non-stop. According to inventory, the thousands of traditional New Year picture products he has prepared for the Spring Festival market since September 2023 have been sold out; the newly designed "Persimmon Ruyi" has received a very good response, and shops in scenic spots such as Chongqing Shibati and Shancheng Alley want to sell in bulk Introduced and sold during the Spring Festival holiday; the next creative pattern can be boldly brewed and accelerated...
In Xu Jiahui’s view, the above-mentioned achievements are inseparable from the inheritance and innovation of Liang Ping’s woodblock New Year paintings that are “always on the road”.
On February 6, Xu Jiahui, the national representative inheritor of Liangping woodblock New Year pictures, made New Year pictures. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai
Xu Jiahui said that with the development of the times, although there are fewer people posting New Year pictures on doors and windows, there are still many people who like to hang New Year pictures in study rooms, tea rooms, and living rooms as decorations, adding a cultural flavor to the modern layout. For this reason, the studio has launched New Year pictures framed in the form of scrolls many years ago, suitable for hanging and collection. In recent years, Xu Jiahui has also taken scrolls to exhibitions around the world to let more international friends understand this art form.
In addition to painting, Xu Jiahui serves as a guest lecturer in many universities in Chongqing, teaching traditional skills courses and has hundreds of students so far. Many college students will also take advantage of the holidays to stay in the studio to learn skills. "I like to lead apprentices. As long as they sincerely want to learn, I am willing to teach." Xu Jiahui said bluntly that only those who truly love traditional culture can carry forward woodblock New Year paintings.
On February 6, Xu Jiahui, the national representative inheritor of Liangping woodblock New Year pictures, made New Year pictures. Photo by China News Service reporter He Penglai
"For traditional culture to be innovative, it must be liked by young people, respect their preferences, and be in line with their ideas." During the conversation, Xu Jiahui emphasized the importance of "young people" many times. The reporter learned that the framed version of "Persimmon Persimmon Ruyi" is the product of his collision of inspiration with college students. The new New Year pictures, which have beautiful meanings, concise content, are portable and lightweight, are suitable for more application scenarios, and are naturally popular.
In the new year, Xu Jiahui hopes to continue to "open up his imagination" with his apprentices and give Liangping woodblock New Year pictures more possibilities by enriching content and developing cultural and creative forms, so that traditional art can better enter the daily lives of modern people. .
"Times are changing, and although people's way of celebrating the Spring Festival has changed, their yearning for a better life has never changed." Xu Jiahui said that the New Year paintings express people's good wishes for a happy and auspicious New Year. This is why Liangping’s woodblock New Year paintings are still shining brightly even though they have been around for about 500 years. (over)