Tai Wei introduces the Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings

On August 28, the "Discover the Civilization of Zhou and Qin Dynasties, Capture the Charm of Baoji" media group visited Tai's family in Fengxiang District, Baoji City. Tai Wei, the sixteenth-generation inheritor of Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings, shared his story with this traditional art form.

The craftsmanship of Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings has been handed down through family workshops. According to the Fengxiang Gazetteer, in 1507, during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty, eight families of the Tai clan in Fengxiang were engaged in the business. Tai Wei, who is 41 years old, is the sixteenth-generation inheritor of Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings.

Tai Wei introduces the making process of Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings

Tai Wei explained that Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties, flourished during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was named after its place of origin, Fengxiang District in Baoji City. The locals usually use pear wood to carve out templates featuring folk stories and seasonal flowers. Dyes made from plants will be applied through manual printing and coloring techniques, resulting in beautiful and diverse woodblock paintings filled with auspicious meanings.

To promote Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings, Tai Wei established a workshop annually attracting many students to learn this traditional craftsmanship.

While expanding its reach, Tai Wei constantly refreshes the painting content and techniques to give this ancient art a new luster. “We won’t abandon the original version, but we do interweave modern elements to help Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings better fit into modern society,” he explains.

Tai Wei incorporated "He Zun" into Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings

In the future, Tai Wei will continue to inherit and develop Fengxiang Woodblock Paintings. The story of preserving the essence of traditional art and its further development will never stop.