As communities across the Chinese mainland prepare for Lunar New Year celebrations on February 17, 2026, master craftsman Zhang Renhua in Dali City, Yunnan Province, approaches the Year of the Horse through the rhythmic dance of chisel and wood. The 58-year-old guardian of Bai ethnic culture is creating intricate Jiama woodcut prints – sacred templates for New Year's blessings used for generations in southwest China.
Through CGTN's recent documentation, viewers witness how Zhang transforms rugged pear wood into spiritual artifacts. Each 40-centimeter block requires 15 days of meticulous carving, preserving patterns symbolizing prosperity and protection. "These prints carry our ancestors' wisdom," Zhang explains, tracing motifs blending Buddhist symbolism with local folklore.
While modern printing methods dominate elsewhere, Dali's Bai communities maintain this Tang Dynasty-era tradition. The woodcuts will be used in temple ceremonies and home rituals during Spring Festival celebrations, creating crimson-inked prayers that bridge past and present.
