Miánzhú

Mianzhu lies at the northern edge of the Chengdu plain, beneath the mountains that rise towards the northwest. It is known for woodblock New Year pictures, printed on paper and coloured by hand. Door gods, auspicious images and scenes from history and theatre adorned homes at the turn of the year, combining the work of carvers, printers and painters. The craft flourished under the Qing, particularly during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns. Workshops in the county town and surrounding villages produced pictures in many forms, from paired door gods to long decorative panels. Their lively colours and familiar stories carried the wishes of households for protection and good fortune.