What is the only handmade woodblock prints in Hunan Province

The only handmade woodblock prints in Hunan Province are the Tantou woodblock prints.

The only handmade woodblock prints in Hunan Province are Tantou woodblock prints. Tantou woodblock prints originated from Tantou Town, located in Longhui County, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, which is an ancient town with a long history and culture. The Tantou woodblock prints are famous for their unique production process and aesthetic style, and are one of the most important representatives of Chinese folk New Year paintings.

The history of Tantou Woodblock Prints can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, and has been around for hundreds of years. According to legend, the art of making woodblock prints in Tantou was introduced to the region by a general named Li Zicheng. He established a workshop in the area and started making woodblock prints. With the passage of time, Tantou woodblock prints gradually developed their own unique style and characteristics.

The process of making woodblock prints in Tantou is very complicated, including dozens of procedures such as seven times printing and seven times hand-painting. Artists use materials such as bamboo paper and Chenzhou sand, which are unique to the region, and combine them with secret recipes from various families, such as applying gold powder to mix them, to create colorful and moist, and ancient, exaggerated, and full-bodied New Year's paintings. These works are full of rich folk flavor and festive atmosphere, and are loved by people.

The contents of woodblock prints in Tantou are rich and varied, including myths and legends, folk stories, and auspicious patterns. Among them, the most popular subjects of the New Year paintings are myths and legends and folk stories. For example, "The God of Door", "The Landlord", "Liu Bei's Invitation to Marriage", etc. These works are full of rich folk flavor and festive atmosphere, and are very popular among people.

Tantou woodblock prints have been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. This honor has led to wider recognition and protection of Tantou woodblock prints. Today, Tantou Town has been named the Hometown of Modern Folk New Year Paintings by the former Ministry of Culture, and has become a famous base for making New Year Paintings in Hunan Province and even in the whole country.

With the development of modern society, the production techniques of woodblock prints in Tantou are facing some challenges. The traditional handmade method requires a lot of time and energy and is costly, making the production of woodblock prints in Tantou difficult. In addition, changes in modern lifestyles have had an impact on the sale of Tantou woodblock prints.

Despite this, Tantou woodblock prints are still loved and sought after. Many people believe that Tantou woodblock prints are an important part of traditional Chinese culture and have high artistic and collectible values. Therefore, the local government and cultural departments have also begun to take measures to protect and pass on this unique folk art.

In short, Tantou woodblock prints are the only handmade woodblock prints in Hunan Province with a long history and unique production process. It is loved by people for its rich content, strong folk flavor and festive atmosphere. With the development of modern society, the production and sale of Tantou woodblock prints have faced some challenges, but it is still an important part of traditional Chinese culture, with high artistic value and collection value.