In China Taking Yangliuqing, Tianjin As a Case

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

In China Taking Yangliuqing, Tianjin As a Case 6th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE 2018) An Investigation on the Characteristic Recognitions of Cultural Toursim “Characteristic Town” in China Taking Yangliuqing, Tianjin as a Case Bingqian Cheng Tianjie Zhang(Corresponding author) The School of Architecture The School of Architecture Tianjin University Tianjin University Tianjin, China Tianjin, China Yingxiang Niu The School of Architecture Tianjin University Tianjin, China Abstract—China is now experiencing the high tide of characteristic take implementation to make it attractive to tourists. Therefore, town construction under the new urbanization. My paper takes it is urgent to sum up the deficiencies of the previous plannings Yangliuqing, Tianjin’s Characteristic Town nominated in 2016, as and give advice to improve it. a specific case, and investigates the characteristic recognitions by both local residents and common tourists, under the new target of I. THE OVERVIEW OF YANGLIUQING promoting cultural tourism. Owing to over 600-year history and nationwide prestigious Lunar New Year Painting, Yangliuqing Yangliuqing is located between Bingjing and Tianjin (Figure was nominated as a National Historical Cultural Town of China in 1), with an excellent geographical location. The town’s area is early 2000s. A series of preservation plans were issued to conserve 64km2 and it is the largest satellite town in the Bohai Sea and revitalize its historical cultural heritage, both physical and Surrounding Area. There are several main roads from unphysical. The implementation provided bases for today’s Yangliuqing to the downtown of Tianjin [4]. cultural tourism development. Via document studies, participatory questionnaires and in-deep interviews, the research Yangliuqing is the famous history town in northern China. unfolds characteristic recognitions and spatial distributions by Because of the geographical advantages, it was the main both tourists and also local residents using GIS. The paper further transportation hub during the Ming dynasty. And the town identifies the advantages and problems, like unattractiveness of gradually developed into the traffic hinge and culture space, lack of tourists and poor market of local Lunar New Year communication center in northern China. After the founding of paintings, and uncovers the reasons behind. the People's Republic of China, because of the development of the railway transportation and the silting of the river, the town Keywords-China’s Characteristic Town; Yangliuqing; Cultural lost its traffic status. So it began to develop the automobile parts Toursim; Characteristic Recognitions industries. With people’s attention on the historic culture, Yangliuiqng are gradually making full use of its historic and At past, the development in China based on quantitative cultural heritage to develop tourism [5]. increase of land is extensive, which caused many ancient villages and towns suffer from different damage [1]. So the government established the institute to preserve the ancient towns and villages. From 2003 to 2014, 252 towns have been nominated as the Historical Cultural Town and 276 villages have been nominated as the Historical Cultural Village [2]. This institute somehow makes lots of cultural heritage avoid being damaged, but there are still some disappointment construction that causes the historic culture be damaged. In current, with the improvement of the urbanization rate, the government are trying to enhance the quality of the urbanization [3]. So they put forward the institution of the Characteristic Town. And Yangliuqing was nominated as the Tianjin’s Characteristic Town in 2016. With the support of the policy, Yangliuqing will Supported by the National Science Foundation of China (No.51478299, 51778403), and the Training Plan to Innovation and Enterprise of National University Students (No.201710056036) 6th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE 2018) Copyright © GSTF 2018 95 GSTF © 2018 ISSN 2301-394X doi: 10.5176/2301-394X_ACE18.125 6th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE 2018) The Style And The The Current Features of The Protection Time of Name Function The Class Constru Architectu ction re The Historic and The Shi's National key Yangliuqing Stylistic Qing Famaily Historic and Palce building in dynasty Compound Cultural Site Museum Tianjin Historic and The Dong's The gallery of Stylistic Tianjin Historic Qing Famaily the folkore building in and Cultural Site dynasty Compound Tianjin Tianjin Historic Historic and The An's and Cultural Site; Practice Stylistic Qing Famaily Xiqing District teaching base building in dynasty Compound Historical and Tianjin Cultural Site the Lunar Historic and An Clan New Year Stylistic Tianjin Historic Qing Academy Painting building in and Cultural Site dynasty Figure 1 The location of Yangliuqing(Sounce: Drawn by the author) Museum Tianjin The Zhou's Selling the Qing Famaily —— —— local Diet dynasty II. THE CHARACTERISTIC HERITAGE IN YANGLIUQING Compound The With a long history and rich historic heritage, Yangliuqing Peiping- contemp Tianjin opry was nominated as one of the fourth batch of China’s Historical Museum Tianjin Historic Campaign —— residenti Cultural Town in 2008. The intangible culture has great historic, and Cultural Site Memorial al literary, artistic and scientific characteristic. Especially the Museum building Yangliuqing Lunar New Year Paintings, is one of the four most s famous "Chinese New Year Paintings"[6], and it has 300 years Xiqing District PuLiang Qing Religious site —— Historic and history and there are 50 workshops in the town with 700 pagoda dynasty employees that devote into this handicraft. Moreover, the Cultural Site Tianjin Kye Yangliuiqng Paper Cutting and the Kite are great artistic and Wenchang Temporarily Ming —— Historic and Pavilion out of service dynasty characteristic [7]. Cultural Site In addition to the rich intangible cultural heritage, there are also variety of tangible cultural heritage in Yangliuiqng, Moreover, Yangliuqing has a large number of agricultural including the antiques which are listed at the table below (Tab.1). production bases and technical agricultural production parks (Tab.2), which provides the foundation to the sightseeing TABLE I. PART OF THE ANTIQUES agricultural tourism. TABLE II. THE AGRICULTURAL TOURISM PARKS Ziya Scenic Yangliuqing Yangliuqing Daliutan leisure spot expo park Park orchard farm Scale 36 ha. 47 ha. 667 ha. 33 ha. Special Characteristic Characteristic Ornamental Folklore tourism agricultural agricultural plant experience project tourism tourism III. THE PRESERVATION PLANNINGS OF YANGLIUQING TABLE III. THE RELEVANT PRESERVATION PLANNINGS 96 GSTF © 2018 6th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE 2018) Class Year The plannings Key content The Preservation Planning of The abundant and characteristic Tianjin 2013 Tianjin Historic culure of Yanliuqing should be Cultural Town preserved. and Village The To build the thousand-year Comprehensive town, it should synthetically Xiqing 2008 Planning of develop the tangible culture and Xiqing Urban- intangible culture. Rual The Building Yangliuqing town as a Comprehensive 1996 historic and cultural town, and Planning of rich the tourism facilities. Yangliuqing II Modified To protect the ecology Comprehensive Yangliu 2003 environment, and make the Planning of qing town suitable to live in. Yangliuqing II The Preservation Planning of To build Yangliuqing town as 2012 Yangliuqing an important folk culture center Historic Cultural in Tianjin. Town The preservation plannings make important effects on the historic and cultural heritages, especially The Preservation Figure 2 The division of the preservation scopes (Source: Ma Xianyong. Planning of Tianjin Historic Cultural Town and Village, which Research on the Historical Famous Towns Protection and Development is an important supplement of The Urban Planning of Xiqing Strategy under the Background of Tourism Development [D]. Tianjin University, 2014.) District. According to the preservation planning, based on the canal culture, the compounds culture, the Lunar Paper Cutting IV. THE EVALUATION OF THE PRESERVATION ON PHYSICAL and the other folklore, Yangliuqing will be the gathering center SPACES of the folklore and culture in Tianjin and the tourism service base in Xiqing. A. The preservation of architectures The core preservation area (Figure 3) is about 14.5ha, The preservation area is 109.9ha, it including the "core which including many types of compounds which are the best preservation area" and "construction control zone" (Figure 2). survival local-style dwellings in Tianjin, especially the Shi’ The planning emphasizes that the implementation should not Family Compound (Figure 4). The planning has a strict control only to protect the heritage’ historic authenticity, features and to preserve this compound, and it is used as the Yangliuqing the continuity of life, but also keep culture’s connotation. Museum now. The other compounds are used as the gallery or the studying center, making the historic buildings dynamic. Figure 3 The division of the preservation scopes (Source: The Preservation Planning of Yangliuqing Historic Cultural Town) 97 GSTF © 2018 6th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE 2018) Figure 4 The Shi’s Family Compound (Source: The internet) In The Preservation Planning of Yangliuqing Historic Cultural Town, it emphasis
Recommended publications
  • Tianjin Travel Guide
    Tianjin Travel Guide Travel in Tianjin Tianjin (tiān jīn 天津), referred to as "Jin (jīn 津)" for short, is one of the four municipalities directly under the Central Government of China. It is 130 kilometers southeast of Beijing (běi jīng 北京), serving as Beijing's gateway to the Bohai Sea (bó hǎi 渤海). It covers an area of 11,300 square kilometers and there are 13 districts and five counties under its jurisdiction. The total population is 9.52 million. People from urban Tianjin speak Tianjin dialect, which comes under the mandarin subdivision of spoken Chinese. Not only is Tianjin an international harbor and economic center in the north of China, but it is also well-known for its profound historical and cultural heritage. History People started to settle in Tianjin in the Song Dynasty (sòng dài 宋代). By the 15th century it had become a garrison town enclosed by walls. It became a city centered on trade with docks and land transportation and important coastal defenses during the Ming (míng dài 明代) and Qing (qīng dài 清代) dynasties. After the end of the Second Opium War in 1860, Tianjin became a trading port and nine countries, one after the other, established concessions in the city. Historical changes in past 600 years have made Tianjin an unique city with a mixture of ancient and modem in both Chinese and Western styles. After China implemented its reforms and open policies, Tianjin became one of the first coastal cities to open to the outside world. Since then it has developed rapidly and become a bright pearl by the Bohai Sea.
    [Show full text]
  • International Student Guide
    Contents CHAPTER I PREPARATIONS BEFORE COMING TO CHINA 1. VISA APPLICATION (1) Introduction to the Student Visa.......................................................................2 (2) Requirements for Visa Application..................................................................2 2. WHAT TO BRING (1) Materials Required for Registration.................................................................2 (2) Other Recommended Items.............................................................................3 3. BANKING INFORMATION AND CURRENCY OPERATIONS (1) Introduction to Chinese Currency....................................................................4 (2) Foreign Currency Exchange Sites and Convertible Currencies................4 (3) Withdrawal Limits of Bank Accounts................................................................5 (4) Wire Transfer Services........................................................................................5 4. ACCOMMODATION (1) Check-in Time......................................................................................................5 (2) On-Campus Accommodation....................................................................5 (3) Off-Campus Accommodation and Nearby Hotels.......................................8 (4) Questions and Answers about Accommodation (Q&A).............................9 CHAPTER II HOW TO GET TO TIANJIN UNIVERSITY 5. HOW TO ARRIVE................................................................................................12 (1). How to Get to Weijin
    [Show full text]
  • The Muslim Emperor of China: Everyday Politics in Colonial Xinjiang, 1877-1933
    The Muslim Emperor of China: Everyday Politics in Colonial Xinjiang, 1877-1933 The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Schluessel, Eric T. 2016. The Muslim Emperor of China: Everyday Politics in Colonial Xinjiang, 1877-1933. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33493602 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA The Muslim Emperor of China: Everyday Politics in Colonial Xinjiang, 1877-1933 A dissertation presented by Eric Tanner Schluessel to The Committee on History and East Asian Languages in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of History and East Asian Languages Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts April, 2016 © 2016 – Eric Schluessel All rights reserved. Dissertation Advisor: Mark C. Elliott Eric Tanner Schluessel The Muslim Emperor of China: Everyday Politics in Colonial Xinjiang, 1877-1933 Abstract This dissertation concerns the ways in which a Chinese civilizing project intervened powerfully in cultural and social change in the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang from the 1870s through the 1930s. I demonstrate that the efforts of officials following an ideology of domination and transformation rooted in the Chinese Classics changed the ways that people associated with each other and defined themselves and how Muslims understood their place in history and in global space.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Article (PDF)
    Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 385 3rd International Conference on Education, Economics and Management Research (ICEEMR 2019) Study on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Utilization of Rural Tourism —Taking Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, Tianjin as an Example Zhida Wang, Hongmei Gao*, Jingjing Bing Department of Economic Management Tianjin Agriculture University Tianjin, China Abstract—The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that without a high II. NON-LEGACY PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT AND degree of cultural self-confidence and without the prosperity of UTILIZATION OF RURAL TOURISM culture, there would be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese China's tourism development and intangible cultural heritage nation. The tourism utilization of intangible cultural heritage has (hereinafter referred to as non-legacy) complement each other exerted the advantages of both tourism industry and cultural industry, which helps to establish cultural self-confidence and in practice. The core competitiveness of tourism destinations cultural identity. Based on this, this study takes Tianjin comes from the difference and regionality of tourism Yangliuqing Town as the research object, which is to solve the destinations, while the non-legacy preserves the regionality of problem that its rich regional culture and many cultural relics tourism destinations. And the unique quality has become an cannot be rationally utilized. Using the field investigation method important factor to attract tourists[1]. This paper believes that and household visits, it is concluded that only the intangible as a folk culture, it has obvious tension and resilience, can cultural heritage can be properly protected and the intangible change in inheritance, adapt to change, and has the color of cultural heritage unique to Yangliuqing Town can be excavated official ideology.
    [Show full text]
  • The Chinese Railroad View Transportation Themes in Popular Print, 1873–1915
    07Flath.qxd 9/27/2004 7:26 AM Page 168 THE CHINESE RAILROAD VIEW TRANSPORTATION THEMES IN POPULAR PRINT, 1873–1915 James A. Flath Historians have long been intrigued by the effects that imperi- alism and industrial technology had on traditional societies such as China. The classical approach to this question, however, has been to judge the “Third World” as technologically incompetent, and depen- dent on a Eurocentric path of international capitalism.1 Under the inXuence of postcolonialism, historians have widely addressed these distortions through methodologies such as the “China-centered” approach.2 This latter development has immeasurably improved the writing of Chinese social and cultural history, but it has also pro- duced a tendency to neglect international inXuences upon China and especially the role of introduced technology in China’s historical development. In proposing a renewed emphasis on this problem, however, the critical question emerges—can historically colonial and semicolonial states such as China be viewed as being under the in- Xuence of imperialism and international capitalism without reinvok- ing Eurocentrism? To suggest that they cannot is to insist that the only way to think about imperialism and international capitalism is through the ideals of rational-humanism that initially produced them. Although it is true that the former could never have existed without the latter, it may also be said that the comprehension of this particular ideological conWguration was not a prerequisite for perceiving and participating in the manifestations of imperialism and capitalism. In fact, interna- tional capitalism extended its physical productions well beyond the reach of the speciWc cognitive orders that accompanied their inven- tion and exposed its machinery to the differing cognitive orders on which it intruded.
    [Show full text]
  • Raised in Reeds, Milu Find a Home to Roam
    CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | 7 CHINA Raised in reeds, milu find a home to roam Populations of the especially when they live in the thick reeds that are 4 to 5 meters tall,” said large deer in the team leader Song Yucheng, who is Dongting Lake area also deputy chief engineer of the nature reserve and a member of the are on the rise milu conservation association. Early in 2009, Song saw a milu for thanks to efforts of the first time when he was studying conservationists for his doctorate in zoology. Since then, he has helped protect and expand the habitats of the species at CHANGSHA — Milu, also known Dongting Lake. as Pere David’s deer, are herd ani- Whenever a research team mem- mals that usually shun humans, but ber spies a deer through his or her when Diandian comes into contact telescope they can barely contain with people at a nature reserve in their excitement. Yueyang, Hunan province, she is Each member has a specific calm. research role, with some flying Eight years ago, 1-week-old Dian- drones, some counting the number dian was left behind by her herd. of milu and some estimating the age When people found her in the reeds of the males based on the shape and of a lake, she looked too weak and size of their antlers. emaciated to survive. As the flood season approaches, Raised by keepers at the East Song and his colleagues are gearing Dongting Lake National Nature up for their busiest time of the year.
    [Show full text]
  • Compiled by Tianjin Municipal Information Office
    Compiled by Tianjin Municipal Information Office Foreword Tianjin, a famous city of history and culture, is one ordinated and connected. United and full of energy, carrier rocket, the Sino-Singapore eco-city, so on and world, a high-end hub for modern manufacturing of the four municipalities of China and the biggest Tianjin residents are aiming for the best, and they are so forth. Apart from these, the Bohai Bank was put industry and a base for research and development, coastal opening-up and port city in North China. Situ- determined to have better performance. Tianjin is into operation as the first national joint-equity com- and the international shipping and logistics center of ated in the north-east of North China Plain, it occupies emerging as a rising star along the Bohai Sea Coast. mercial bank in the past decade. The Bohai Indus- North China. The Area will gradually develop into the lower reach of the Haihe River and is located at the trial Fund has been established in Tianjin, taking the an economically prosperous, socially harmonious center of the Bohai Bay, covering an area of 11,919.7 Developing Binhai Hot Area lead in the nation’s development campaign of private and environmentally friendly new eco-city suitable square kilometers and enjoying a coastline of 153.3 equity. The integrated and comprehensive reform for human habitation. In the 1980s, Shenzhen City was the focus of atten- kilometers, from which it has derived the names of and experimental plan of the Area has been approved tion. In the 1990s, Pudong Area was in the spotlight.
    [Show full text]
  • Chinese Folk Art
    4 5 Chief Compiler Feng Jicai Translated by Chen Xia and Huang Shan Chinese Folk Art Editorial Committee for Chinese Folk Art (Han Ethnic Group) Honorary Chief Compiler Zhong Jingwen (1903 – 2002) Chief Compiler Feng Jicai Executive Chief Compilers Chen Ruilin Lu Zhongmin Executive Editors Bo Songnian Tao Lifan Qiu Huanxing Chen Ruilin Lu Zhongmin Editorial Committee for Chinese Folk Art 6 7 The Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization 8 9 Boat trackers on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River 6 7 China’s 24 solar terms and various I. Solar Terms and festive customs date back to ancient times. Their origins are closely related to Festivals ancient people’s farming activities and their observation of climatic and phenological changes. Ancient China was an agrarian society, so Chinese people attached great importance to meteorological observation. More than 2,000 years ago, they designated 24 solar terms and set a calendar, which is currently known as the lunar calendar, firmly establishing order in agrarian production and people’s lives. 8 9 Based on the 24 solar terms, various festive customs were them. Archeologists have found many formed in line with seasonal, climatic and phenological changes ruins of altars used to hold such rituals. in a year. In ancient China, rulers claimed that their Although various festive customs came into being to meet right to rule the country was granted by ancient Chinese people’s practical needs at different times of heaven. Therefore, the right to worship the year, they also exhibit people’s active pursuit of cultural heaven and earth was exclusive to them.
    [Show full text]
  • Technical Workshop: UNWTO – WTCF City Tourism Performance Research 2 September 2017, Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center, Tianjin, China
    Technical Workshop: UNWTO – WTCF City Tourism Performance Research 2 September 2017, Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center, Tianjin, China General Information Note 24/08/17 1. THE WORKSHOP Jointly organized by the Tianjin Tourism Administration and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Technical Workshop is part of the UNWTO – WTCF City Tourism Performance Research. The workshop to be organized on the occasion of the China Tourism Industry Expo (CTIE) will review and discuss the results of the few cases studied in the region within the joint UNWTO – WTCF initiative. The UNWTO Secretariat in collaboration with WTCF (World Tourism Cities Federation) launched an initiative to showcase the good practices on “tourism performance” in several urban destinations. For additional information please contact: Mr. Sascha Stange Ms. Yang Jin Destination Management & Quality Programme Tianjin Tourism Administration World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Municipality of Tianjin C/ Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain Hexi, Binshui Rd, Tianjin, China Tel: +34 91 567 82 28 Tel: +86 13821483072 Fax:+34 91 571 37 33 [email protected] [email protected] 1.1. Dates and venue The Workshop will take place in meeting room 213 in the Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center, in Tianjn, China on 2 September, 2017. Address: Tianjin Meijiang Conference & Exhibition Center China Jiang Wan Rd., Youyi S Rd, Tianjin, 300381, China, 1.2. Workshop Website Updated information is available on: http://destination.unwto.org/event/technical-workshop-unwto-wtcf-city- tourism-performance-research. 1.3. Online registration For participation, it is required to register online through the website of the workshop before 30 August, 2017. 1.4.
    [Show full text]
  • Faculty Orientation Guide INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL of TIANJIN
    2019-2020 Faculty Orientation Guide INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL of TIANJIN 2 2019-2020 Faculty Orientation Guide WORKING LEARNING ACTING TOGETHER 3 WWW.ISTIANJIN.ORG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL of TIANJIN Handbook Contents 4 Director’s Message ...................................................................................................................................... 6 IST Guiding Statements ............................................................................................................................... 8 School Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Admissions ................................................................................................................................................ 14 School Organisation ................................................................................................................................... 16 The Elementary School .............................................................................................................................. 22 The Secondary School ............................................................................................................................... 31 Community Service And Co-Curricular Activities....................................................................................... 40 Teacher Resources ....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 中国·天津 Tianjin, China
    欢迎辞|WELCOMING SPEECH 主办单位: 中华人民共和国文化和旅游部 天津市人民政府 承办单位: 天津市文化和旅游局 北京兴旅国际传媒有限公司 Organized by: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, P.R. China Tianjin Municipal People’s Government Operated by: Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism Beijing Sunny International Communications Ltd. 中国·天津 Tianjin, China 2019.9.6-9.8 扫描二维码了解更多展会信息 Scan the QR code for more information. 2 3 CONTENTS 目录 02 欢迎辞 / Welcoming speech 04 展会日程 / Schedule 06 走进天津 / Visit Tianjin 08 天津名片 / Image of Tianjin 18 展馆交通图 / Venue and Traffic 19 展馆平面图 / Venue Floor Plan 20 参展商名录 / Exhibitors List 欢迎辞|WELCOMING SPEECH Welcoming Speech China Tourism Industry Exposition 2019 (CTIE), co-organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, will take place at Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center between 6 and 8 September. As a general-tourism exposition strongly supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Tourism Expo has taken place for 10 consecutive editions and is widely commended in the industry. It has generated an agglomerative effect that sees the clustering of tourism industries, businesses and services, making it the most influential and dynamic exposition of China’s tourism industry. In the year when culture and tourism are integrating, CTIE 2019 focuses on “promoting culture and tourism integration and pooling together industrial-development achievements”. The exhibitors include outstanding cultural and tourism businesses, travel-equipment businesses, cultural-performance equipment, hotel articles, cruise ships, specially fitted vehicles, tourist-site equipment and cultural and creative businesses. For on-site trade and talks, tourist sites, hotels, travel agencies, professional clubs and government business-recruitment departments are invited, with a view to create a professional platform that showcases China’s cultural and tourism brands, exhibits and markets products, encourages industrial collaboration and exchanges achievements.
    [Show full text]
  • Nianhua) and Peasant Resistance in the Early Years of the People’S Republic
    Repainting China: New Year Prints (Nianhua) and Peasant Resistance in the Early Years of the People’s Republic CHANG-TAI HUNG The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology On November 26, 1949, less than two months after the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Ministry of Culture issued a directive to artists and writers about the importance and possible use in a new era of New Year prints (nianhua), a simple and inexpensive Chinese folk medium used to dec- orate homes in celebration of the New Year: Nianhua is one of the most popular types of Chinese folk art. Under the feudal rule in the past, it was employed as a vehicle to spread archaic ideas. Since Chairman Mao [Ze- dong] delivered his “Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art” in 1942, in which he called upon writers and artists to use old artistic forms to promote popularization of literature and art, artists in various old liberated areas had already used reformed nian- hua with considerable results to disseminate the idea of people’s democracy. New ni- anhua has proven to be a beloved art medium, rich in educational value. With Chinese Lunar New Year fast approaching—the first since the founding of the PRC—local cul- tural and educational organizations should look upon the development and spread of ni- anhua as one of their most essential tasks during this New Year’s propaganda activities. The new prints should convey the following messages: the grand victory of Chinese people’s war for liberation and the people’s great revolution, the establishment of the People’s Republic, the Common Program [for China], and the recovery and progress of industrial and agricultural production.
    [Show full text]