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Wood Block Print – Votive Offering in Xianshang

03/06/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W600 X H170mm, China

A opera theme wood block print – Votive Offering in Xianshang.

The story is about princess Miao Shang, the youngest daughter of ruler of the Miao kingdom.  Miao Shang had an unhappy marriage and decided to become a nun.  The ruler hated this idea of his own daughter, the royal princess, becoming a nun. He struck a deal with her, if the flowers she planted on a rocky cliff in chilly October could blossom she would be allowed to start her training.  Miraculously the cliff was blooming with flowers that October, Miao Shang departed for her journey of Buddhism.  The ruler was not at all happy and summoned for her returned, she ignored all his requests.  Years later, the ruler got very sick, the doctors prescribed a odd dose of medicine which required a close relative’s eye and hand to be added the mixture.  The two elder sisters refused, when Miao Shang heard about the news she rushed back and sacrificed an eye and a hand for her father.  Soon after the ruler recovered she left for her training again.  Unable to see his beloved daughter, the ruler ordered for the monastery to be burnt.  On her escape, Miao Shang’s route was blocked by a tiger while the army was just behind her, unwilling to abandon her training she gave herself up to the tiger which swallowed her in one gulp.  Miao Shang woke up inside a cave in Xianshang, there she started meditating.  When the ruler finally found her in the cave she has already turned into the Avalokitsevara (the bodhisattva with a thousand hands and a thousand eye).  Since then, the ruler would bring votive offering to Xianshang every year.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print for Window Decoration

03/05/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAW410 X H770mm, China

This is a wood block print is a special type of wood block print that is used to decorate the window.

They are divided into 3 categories;
– on the side of the window
– on top of the window
– on the window lattice

Those for the side of the window are generally long, like this one (which is to be cut into 2 long strips).  The theme are mostly of the flower with traditional flower vases.  This particular print features the peony and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

The one that are placed over the window are horizontal and long, an example of this will be featured in tomorrow’s post.

Those placed on the window lattice resembles paper cutouts for the same purpose.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – Kirin Boy

03/03/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W320 X H490mm, China

If you notice from yesterday’s post, The 5 Blesssings, on either side of the print is a mother holding a baby riding on a monster looking creature.

This is no monster but a mythical kind creature known as the Kirin, Ki refers to the male creature and Rin the female.  It has  the head of a dragon, horns of a deer, eyes of a lion, the body of a tiger, the scale of fish.  Apart from its ability to offer protection to the family, it also has a special task and that is in delivering babies.  A bit like the stork’s role in the western world.  It is believe that the kirin delivered Confucius 2500 years ago.

Click here to see our items featuring the Kirin Boy.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – The 5 Blessings

03/02/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W400 X H280mm, China

The phrase 五福同堂 (5 Blessings within the Family) is a common Chinese well wishes.  Do you know that the 5 blessings are?

The 5 blessings are;
– longevity
– wealth
– health
– humanity
– a dignify death

As the word “blessing” 福 has the same sound as the word “bat” 蝠.  One could often found bats as a decorative elements and most of the time, 5 of them.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – Fu Shou Xi

02/25/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W260 X H350mm, China

After the description from yesterday’s post, would you be able to tell whom these Gods are?

The two prints are of the same theme, Fu shou and Xi (Blessing, longevity and happiness).  This particular print is from the school of Zhuxian which are characterized by bolder lines, vivid colours and more dramatic composition.  The school of Zhuxian is recognized as one of the 4 main schools of Chinese wood block printing.  The print from yesterday’s post with finer lines, more detail description and paler colours are from Yangjiabu school, one of the most popular school in the Ming and Qing dynasty.

It is interesting to compare two prints of the same theme and see how the artisan depicts the prints, almost like saying the same phrase with two different dialect.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – The Peach Party

02/18/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W560xH340mm, China

Every year on the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West, 3rd of lunar March, there will be a peach party and all the saints will be invited and feast on special peaches.  A bite of these magic peaches will make one immortal but there are extremely rare, they take 3000 years to flower, 3000 to bare fruits and another 3000 years to ripe.

In the middle of the wood block print is the Queen Mother with two of female saints by her sides.  Below, holding a bowl full of peaches is the Monkey King who mischievously stole some of the peaches.  On the left side of the Monkey King is the God of longevity with his deer on the Monkey’s right.  The crane by the God of longevity is saint Dong Fang Shuo who was so obsessed with tasting the magic peaches that he turned into a crane in order to be nearer to the peach. The 8 saints joining the party are Eight Immortals –  from (left to right, top to bottom) are Philosopher Han Xiang Zi (with the xiao pipe), Philosopher Han Xiang Zi, Lan Cai He (with magic basket), Leader Lu Dong Bin (with sword), Royal Uncle Cao Guo Jiu (with castanets),  Iron-Crutch Tie Guai Li,  Immortal lady He Zian Gu (with magic lotus) and Elder Zhang Guo Lao.  Click here to see the symbolism of the magic tools.

This word block print will make an ideal birthday present.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – Zhuang Yuan Parade

02/17/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W560x H340mm, China

In old China, society is generally organised by different class, it would be extremely difficult to excel beyond where one is set to belong.  In the Siu dynasty, a system for selecting a top official post was introduced.  By way of a series of literature examinations, unlimited by one’s background the best is chosen purely from his knowledge.  The scholar who comes first in the examination is known as the Zhuang Yuan and would be appointed directly by the emperor.  It therefore became every parents’ dream for their son to become the Zhuang Yuan. After his appointment the Zhuang Yuan would parade from the capital all the way home.  The villagers are proud to welcome the scholar home, in fact so proud that the alley where he used lived would be renamed.  In this print, the gate on the left is known as “Zhuang Yuan Place”.  In front of the gate, leading the parade are two soldiers bang on the gongs and carrying the banner 状元及第 “Zhuang Yuan Ji Di” (the new title of the scholar) and 連中三元 (coming first in all three exams).  Behind them, the two men with flower decorated hats are the Zhuang Yuan and the one in armor the military Zhuang Yuan (who came first in martial art).  What more can one wish for if a family can have 3 sons all to become Zhuang Yuan!  On the sky, there is a ghostly figurine, he is Kui Xing, the saint in charge of who becomes Zhuang Yuan.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – Fish to Dragon Transformation

02/16/2015 //
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

W570xH430mm, China

Dragons are supreme mythical creatures, even the Emperor are symbolised by the dragon.  It is believed that when the carp fish can jump through the narrow section, known as the Dragon Gate, in Chuan Jiang River it will become a dragon.  Every year during spring time, at the down stream of the Dragon Gate gathers thousands of fish, because of the pinch in the stream the current is especially strong and being upstream only the most capable fish can make it through the gate.

The transformation from fish to dragon is a blessing parents wish for their children, from the ordinary carp into the mythical dragon.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – Harmony

02/13/2015 //
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File-8---DW-006-一團和氣W450xH680mm, China

On the top of the print is a hanging bat symbolizing the arrival of blessing.  The word upside down (倒) “dao” shares the same pronunciation as the word arrived (到) “dao”, while word bat (蝠) “fu” with the word blessing (福) “fu”.

Hanging on the mouth of the bat is a Buddha’s hand fruit, a symbol of happiness and a peach which symbolizes longevity.

This rounded figure is known as “yi tuan he qi” – Harmony, which is a blessing for oneself, the family, the country to the world at large.

The figure originally comes from the painting of the same title by the Ming emperor, Zhu Jian Shen, featuring the Maitreya in a lotus meditation pose.  On closer look, there are 2 scholars on either side smiling at each other with their knee touching.  The Maitreya embraces the 2 scholars with his head bend, revealing his bald head.  The 3, Buddhist, Taoist and Confucius are in harmony with each other.

一團和氣

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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Wood Block Print – Kitchen God

02/12/2015 //
0

File-3---C11---3016-2-灶君府W340xH530mm, China

Today the 24th day of lunar December is the day to thank your Kitchen God.

It is believed that the Kitchen God has spend a year blessing our food and our cooking (which one must be thankful for!), apart from this he has been monitoring our virtue and evil deeds and will depart in the morning to report to the Jade Emperor.  To thank him for his hard work and to avoid any slip up with his report, special food has to be offered for this occasion.

  • A bowl of water and a bowl of rice – to signify that the Kitchen God to be pure and impartial.
  • Sugarcane – the node of the sugar cane forms the ladder for the Kitchen God to reach the sky.
  • Rice cake – to make his mouth sticky so no bad things would leak out
  • Satsumas, tangerines and red Sugar – to sweeten his mouth
  • Paper Horse, black robe and boots – costume and transport for his journey to the Jade Emperor
  • Cheat Sheet – a yellow piece of paper with words chosen by the family

Now I wonder what happened to the bowl of rice and water …

Click here to see our other Kitchen God prints.

Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition

MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION

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