Zhuxianzhen New Year Posters

Zhuxianzhen is a small town twenty kilometers from Kiefeng in the He'nan Province. It is classed as one of China’s most beautiful ancient towns. Although there are only a small number of workshops still producing New Year prints, there are still many authentic, original designs created each year from this area.

Zhuxianzhen New Year prints can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) when craftsmen in the town decided to adopt the images of gate gods drawn on local doors and windows into art.

More than three hundred workshops existed in Zhuxianzhen in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties with many artisans pursuing New Year prints as their main trade.

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, many workshops moved from Zhuxianzhen to its neighboring city, Keifeng. By 1940, there were only twenty-three workshops still producing New Year prints.

The formation of the People’s Republic of China (1949) was welcomed by many traditional artisans as it promised the preservation and promotion of endangered traditions within China. Institutions and organizations were established in many towns, including Zhuxianzhen, to develop and protect the production of Chinese prints.

However the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) saw New Year workshops perish dramatically within Zhuxianzhen. Today, there are only twenty skilled craftsmen dedicated to reestablishing New Year prints into the local Chinese culture.

Unfortunately, many original New Year designs and woodblock prints were lost in the Cultural Revolution. Only twenty-four woodblock prints from the Ming and Qing Dynasties have been recovered from Zhuxianzhen. The town is hoping to start printing these designs again for current and future generations to enjoy.

Zhuxianzhen is known for its exquisite woodblock and engraving designs. Black and white New Year prints were extremely popular in Zhuxianzhen in past dynasties. Today, bright and bold colours add a modern touch to traditional designs. Chinese Herbs were originally used to create paint with most craftsmen preferring to continue with this traditional paint. Woodblock printing involves drawing and tracing, block engraving, printing and finally painting.

The preservation and promotion of Chinese New Year prints is now extremely important to both the town of Zhuxianzhen and the He'nan State Government. Both are determined on establishing new initiatives and schemes to increase the production of New Year prints within Zhuxianzhen.