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Taohuawu prints of Suzhou
Suzhou
was once the most prosperous region of the Chinese Empire. In addition to the
region's economic prosperity, it also produced scores of Chinese intellectuals
and artists. Beginning in the 16th century, Taohuawu woodblock printing
played an integral role in this area's cultural heritage and history.
Taohuawu prints of Suzhou were first made during the Ming
Dynasty (1368-1644), in a workshop on Suzhou's Taohuawu Street. They were
most popular during the Qing
Dynasty
(1616-1911).
Yangliuqing
prints of Tianjin,
Zhuxianzhen of Henan, Yangjiabu of Weifang, Shangdong, and Mianzhu of Sichuan,
were known collectively as the five folk New Year wood block prints of China.
These prints, hung during the Chinese Spring
Festival
celebration, take the forms of door, central and hanging scrolls. Their
bold patterns in forceful lines and bright colors like scarlet, peach, yellow,
green and purple are highly decorative.
Themes of Taohuawu prints include stories of the
Unicorn, which represents good fortune, and images posted on the front door of a
house to ward off evil spirits. The themes of the four stamps are : Playing love
songs on the Pipa
, the
Unicorn bestowing a boy-child, Liu Hai playing with a gold Toad, and the ten
beauties playing football.
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