Woodblock New Year Painting 木版年画
The traditional Chinese folk art of New Year painting， known as Nianhua in Chinese， dates back to the Northern Song Dynasty （960—1127）， when it was customary to create colorful artworks to decorate doors during the Chinese Lunisolar New Year—to drive away evil spirits.
中国传统的民间年画艺术（在中国被称为“年画”），可以追溯到北宋时期（960—1127），当时人们习惯在农历新年期间创作彩色艺术品，用来装饰大门，以驱除邪灵。
The primary technique used in New Year painting， both historically and in contemporary times， is woodblock printing.
无论是历史上还是现在，年画使用的主要技术都是木版印刷。
The process involves printing the basic outlines of the design in black ink. This is done using a woodblock that has been carved to represent the drawing’s lines. Once this base layer is printed， additional woodblocks are used for each color in the final painting. These color blocks are carefully carved and must perfectly align with the black outlines.
木版印刷的制作需要在一块木版上雕刻出图画的线条，然后将黑墨涂在木版的凸起面，从而印出图画的基本轮廓。印出基本轮廓后，每增加一种颜色，就要增加一块木版，直至成画。这些色版经过精心雕刻，必须与黑色轮廓完美对齐。
After the main colors are printed onto the same sheet of paper using these specific blocks， some parts may have to be colored by hand. This is typically done to enhance small details and lift the painting’s visual impact.
用这些特定的色版将主要颜色印到同一张纸上后，有些地方可能需要手工上色。这通常是为了丰富细节，提升图画的视觉冲击力。
One of the most famous styles in the genre is the woodblock New Year painting from Zhuxian Town in Kaifeng， central China’s Henan Province.
最著名的木版年画之一来自中国中部河南省开封市朱仙镇。
Its design features bold and concise lines， exaggerated forms styled after ancient aesthetics， and bright colors. It originated and flourished in Kaifeng， then the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty and located 20 km from Zhuxian Town.
朱仙镇木版年画线条粗犷简练，造型古朴夸张，色彩新鲜艳丽。它起源并兴盛于北宋都城开封，距朱仙镇20千米。
The colors of Zhuxian’s New Year paintings usually include black， red， yellow， purple and green， extracted from plants， including Chinese medicinal herbs. “Prints made with these natural pigments do not fade over time， presenting a design characterized by strong contrasts and rich hues，” Zhang Jizhong， President of the Zhuxian Town Woodblock New Year Painting Society， told Beijing Review.
朱仙镇木版年画的颜色通常包括黑色、红色、黄色、紫色和绿色。这些颜色从中草药等植物中提取。朱仙镇木版年画协会会长张继中在接受《北京周报》采访时表示： “用这些天然颜料制作的年画不会随着时间的推移而褪色，呈现出强烈的对比和丰富的色调。”
Zhang is also a provincial-level representative inheritor of the art form and the fifth-generation successor of the Wan Tong Old Shop， a famous woodblock New Year painting workshop in the town.
张继中还是这一艺术形式的省级代表性传承人，也是镇上著名的木版年画作坊万同老店的第五代传承人。
Zhang oversaw the publication of related books to enable more people to understand the appearance and history of Zhuxian’s woodblock paintings. Additionally， he actively sought funding to produce animated films based on the folk art， aiming to better promote it.
为了使更多的人了解朱仙镇木版年画的起源和历史，张继中参与了相关书籍的出版。此外，他还积极寻求资金，制作以木版年画为基础的动画电影，以更好地推广这一民间艺术。
In recent years， study tours have become an important way to promote the woodblock paintings. Every year， numerous students and young adults visit Zhuxian’s related shops， where they experience the printing process and take home their DIY creations. This interactive experience breaths new life into the New Year paintings， Zhang explained.
近年来，研学旅行已成为推广木版画的重要途径。每年都有许多学生和年轻人来到朱仙镇的相关商店。在那里，他们体验印刷过程，并把自己DIY的作品带回家。张继中解释说，这种互动体验为年画注入了新的活力。
The Kaifeng Museum features an exhibition titled Zhuxian Town Woodblock New Year Painting. In addition to showcasing the history and collections of the New Year paintings， the exhibition also includes interactive experiences. For example， visitors can print their own paintings.
开封博物馆举办了以“朱仙镇木版年画”为主题的展览。除了展示年画的历史和收藏，展览也设置了互动体验环节。例如，游客可以印刷自己的画作。
To promote and inherit this traditional craftsmanship， different organizations in Zhuxian Town and Kaifeng are seeking strategies for further development.
为了弘扬和传承这一传统工艺，朱仙镇和开封的不同机构都在寻求进一步的发展策略。
For example， the International Print Base in the town has teamed up with universities and artists to create a center integrating international print research， exhibitions， education， creation， production and sales.
例如，镇上的国际版画基地与高校和艺术家合作，以打造出一个集国际版画研究、展览、教育、创作、生产与销售为一体的中心。
Moreover， local organizations have also developed numerous cultural intellectual properties， integrating woodblock New Year paintings into more home decorations and daily life products.
此外，当地机构还开发了大量的文化知识产品，将木版年画融入到更多的家居装饰和日常生活用品中。
Word Bank
enhance /ɪn'hɑːns/ v. 提高；增强；增进
bold /bəʊld/ adj. 大胆自信的；轮廓突出的
concise /kən'saɪs/ adj. 简明的；简洁的
oversee /'əʊvə'siː/ v. 监督；监视
showcase /'ʃəʊkeɪs/ v. 展示；展现