SUZHOU TAO HUA WU WOODCUT SPRING FESTIVAL PRINTS

With 400 years of history, Taohuawu in the city of Suzhou is well known at home and abroad for its woodblock new year picture which is a traditional Chinese art treasure. There were already printing and distribution of Taohuawu woodblock new year picture as early as the Ming dynasty, It was future developed in the early Qing dynasty and came up to a period of great prosperity during the region of Emperor Qianlong. Later it enjoyed equal popularity with Yangliuqing woodblock new year picture in Tianjing and it is reputed as “Taohuawu in the South and Yangliuqing in the North China”

There is a wide-range of subjects in its pictures which are characterized by rich in composition and decoration, tallness and grace in lines, resplendent with color and plain. It has still preserved the technique of hand cutting and printing with the rich local flavor and characteristics. It’s main contents range from propitiousness, blessing, history stories, legends, historical sites and scenic spots to season and folk customs, monasteries and temples, which are popularly loved by the Chinese people and which has also become people’s temperament and interest that the people are in pursuit of better life. Its specifications vary from Menhua (picture for doors), central scrolls to vertically-hung scrolls, Doufang (picture or writings on a square piece of paper) which are suitable to putting up on the walls and beautifying the environment.

In the recent years, the Taohuawu Society for woodblock new year picture has created a member of new works basing upon the inheritance of traditional pictures. Its staff members are often invited to exhibit their works or demonstrate hand-printing on the spot in many countries and are well received by the overseas Friends, and their activities have also contributed to promoting the world cultural exchange and strengthening the friendship between the people of China and other countries.