The Ming Dynasty, especially the Wanli, Tianqi, and Chongzhen dynasties in the late Ming Dynasty, was the golden age in the history of Chinese printmaking. The woodblock printing industry further prospered based on the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Bookshops in Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Jianyang and other places have endured for a long time, while Huizhou, Suzhou and Huzhou have become emerging publishing centers. Printmaking creation in different regions gradually formed their own styles. There are mainly Jian'an prints centered in Jianyang, Fujian, Jinling prints centered in Nanjing, Xin'an prints centered in Shexian, Anhui, Wulin prints centered in Hangzhou and Wulin prints centered in Hangzhou. Su Song prints centered in Suzhou, etc.
The brilliant achievements of printmaking in the Ming Dynasty are highlighted in the illustrations of novels and operas. The development of citizen literature promoted the development and prosperity of printmaking art. There are a huge number of illustrations for novels and operas, and Jinling Fuchuntang alone has created nearly a thousand of them. Famous works such as "The Romance of the West Chamber", "The Story of Pipa", "The Peony Pavilion", "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin", etc., all have illustrations in various versions and styles handed down to the world.
In the Ming Dynasty, many painters participated in the creation of prints. Their combination with engraving greatly improved the artistic level of prints. Chen Hongshou and Ding Yunpeng are outstanding representatives.
Chen Hongshou's paintings include illustrations of "Nine Songs Pictures", "Water Margin Leaves", "Bogu Leaves", "Jiaohong Ji" and Zhang Shenzhi's original "The Romance of the West Chamber". The early work "Nine Songs Picture" is based on Qu Yuan's famous poem, embodying the spirit and character of the original work in every aspect, and successfully portrays Qu Yuan's resolute, sad and angry image. "Water Margin Leaves" and "Bogu Leaves" are two sets of wine order paintings. The former depicts characters, while the latter depicts real stories. In addition to depicting the spiritual characteristics of the characters, it also injects the artist's own emotions, reflecting Chen Hongshou's influence in painting and literature. Deep cultivation.
Ding Yunpeng's works include famous works such as "Bogu Illustrations", "Archaeological Maps", "Fang's Ink Book", "Cheng's Ink Garden", "Yangzheng Illustration", etc. Among them, "Cheng's Ink Garden" contains four Western religious prints copied by him, which is undoubtedly an early exchange of Chinese and Western print art.
In addition to Chen and Ding, famous printmakers in the Ming Dynasty include Gu Zhengyi, Wu Zuoqian, Zheng Qianli, Wang Geng, Cai Chonghuan, Lu Xi, Wang Wenheng, etc. Among the engravers in printmaking, the Huang family from She County, Anhui Province is the most famous. According to incomplete statistics, there were more than forty woodcarvers of the Huang family from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty. Among them, Huang Lin, Huang Yingguang, Huang Yingrui, Huang Yikai, Huang Yibin and Huang Zili had many popular works. In addition, Xiang Nanzhou, Liu Ciquan, Liu Suming, Chen Pinzhou, Chen Zhenzhong, Wang Zhongxin, Wang Chengfu, Wang Shiheng, Hong Guoliang, etc. were all important printmakers in the Ming Dynasty.
In addition to Chen and Ding, famous printmakers in the Ming Dynasty include Gu Zhengyi, Wu Zuoqian, Zheng Qianli, Wang Geng, Cai Chonghuan, Lu Xi, Wang Wenheng, etc. Among the engravers in printmaking, the Huang family from She County, Anhui Province is the most famous. According to incomplete statistics, there were more than forty woodcarvers of the Huang family from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty. Among them, Huang Lin, Huang Yingguang, Huang Yingrui, Huang Yikai, Huang Yibin and Huang Zili had many popular works. In addition, Xiang Nanzhou, Liu Ciquan, Liu Suming, Chen Pinzhou, Chen Zhenzhong, Wang Zhongxin, Wang Chengfu, Wang Shiheng, Hong Guoliang, etc. were all important printmakers in the Ming Dynasty.