The Art of Chinese Traditional Woodblock Printing
Thematic Gallery (2),
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
17 December 2000 - 02 October 2001
This inaugural exhibition featured rare Lunar New Year woodblocks and prints. The gallery reconstructed a workshop to illustrate the woodblock printing process and the materials used and to reflect the historical and artistic significance of this traditional printing method.
Exhibit Highlights
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Land Giving Record
Guangdong
The 15th year of Guang Xu , Qing Dynasty (c.1889)
25.6 (H) x 42.6 (W)cm
Donated by David H.S. Chau
A Land Giving Record was in fact a contract for the sale of land. In order to give face to the seller and in consideration of his reputation, people referred to it euphemistically as "land giving".
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Da Lai Quan (Military Door Gods)
Foshan, Guangdong
Early 20th Century
67(H) x 53.5(W) cm
Donated by David H.S. Chau
The design of this pair of multicolour block printed God of Doors is lifelike, though a little exaggerated.The outlines were thick and solid, while the cutting is superbly smooth. Judging from the design and the creativity, this woodblock print is thought to be a high-quality print produced in Foshan City. The creativity is further substantiated by the orange background, which was usually white. According to the Foshan customs, the background would also be white if a family member died during the time of New Year. In these case, people called the gods Bai-yu Men Shen (White Jade God of Doors).
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Nan Bei Hang Rules
Hong Kong
The 3rd of Tong Zhi, Qing Dynasty
(c.1865)
49.8 (H) x 70.8 (W)cm
Donated by David H.S. Chau
The Nan Bei Hang stipulated its own trading rules, which were produced using woodblock printing in the early period of Hong Kong's modern history.
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A woodblock of paper charm
Guangdong
1950s - 60s
21 (L) x 45.7 (W ) x 1.3(H) cm
An example of relief block carving, the various patterns are images of prayers for deliverance from all sorts of mishaps and calamities.
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A woodblock for printing a calligraphy model
Guangdong
1950s - 60s
16.5 (L) x 10.2(W) x 1.3 (H) cm
The strokes of the characters were engraved on the woodblock in a hollow form, and the characters printed were called hollow characters while the woodblock was a "hollow woodblock". The print product was designed for students to practice calligraphy
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Other Past Exhibitions
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