The New Year picture in China, whose original form depicted a door god said to protect the home from evil spirits, is one of the most important folk arts in China. The art, usually printed by woodblock with simple lines and warm colors, not only bears an auspicious meaning and makes people feel happy, but also reflects the history of Chinese society, its beliefs and customs.

New Year pictures used to play an important role in Chinese New Year celebrations as every family would replace its old New Year pictures with new ones to say goodbye to the past and welcome the future.

However, with the adoption of metal printing and new printing technologies, the practice of woodblock printing has gradually declined, and with it the prevalence of New Year pictures has subsided. Even scarcer than the woodblock printed New Year pictures are the artists, or inheritors, who have mastered the traditional techniques used to make the New Year pictures.

Jia Yuexin, a twentysomething year-old Qingdao native is one such inheritor. He is thoroughly committed to making sure the time-honored craft doesn't die out. Jia majored in printmaking in college and has a deep love for making New Year pictures by the old fashioned woodblock printing technique.

Jia has mastered all of the exquisite procedures including drawing sketches on paper, carving sketches onto a wooden board, adding color to the board, and finally printing New Year pictures.

"It usually takes me a month to finish a New Year picture. The step of carving sketches onto a wooden board requires great patience and meticulousness," said Jia.

The works crafted by Jia are well-received by customers not only because of the exquisiteness of the works themselves, but also because of the affection attached to the art itself. This continued value in Jia's art shows that many local Qingdao residents still believe the art form to be an important part of the Chinese New Year atmosphere.

New Year pictures, one of the most important folk arts in China, hang on many doorways of Chinese family homes during the Lunar New Year. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

Jia Yuexin, a twentysomething year-old from Qingdao and keen practitioner of New Year woodblock printings, carves a sketch using a special knife. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]