木版年画在澳洲讲述中国故事

文王锦强Wang JinQiang 译曹宇光Cao Yuguang

木版年画在澳洲讲述中国故事

Chinese Stories in Narration of Woodblock New Year Paintings in Australia

文王锦强Wang JinQiang 译曹宇光Cao Yuguang

3月20日，年画家马志强与杨家埠年画艺术家颜克臣的师父于福堂将翻刻新印的《水浒一百单八将》带到了澳大利亚墨尔本，在由中国文联、中国民协、维多利亚多元文化委员会、澳大利亚大洋洲文联主办，澳大利亚大洋传媒集团、大洋艺术中心、四川省民协、山东潍坊杨家埠年画院、四川绵竹年画馆承办的中国木版年画展活动中亮相，受到公众广泛关注。中澳嘉宾与当地市民及中国文化爱好者们欢聚大洋艺术中心，共同领略和分享了中国木版年画独特的文化魅力与艺术韵味。

本次展览展出的近百幅作品，几乎囊括了中国年画多样化的制作形式：既有木版套印年画，又有半印半绘年画，也有手绘年画，还有独特的绣品年画。作为北方年画的重要产地之一山东潍坊杨家埠，带来了包括辟邪纳福、祥瑞吉利、民俗风情、小说戏文、风景花卉、美人童子等内容的明清时期年画代表作，如《神荼郁垒》《五子门神》《增福财神》《大灶王》《摇钱树》《空城计》《虎牢关三英战吕布》《百子献寿》《西厢记》《金玉满堂》《水浒一百单八将》《博古花卉图》等；还有新中国成立后创作的、表现新时期新生活的年画作品，如《欢乐新年》《新春大吉》《家畜兴旺》《姑嫂编织》《勤俭致富》《休闲度假》《放风筝》等，题材多样，门类齐全，几乎涉及了木版年画历史流变的全过程。四川绵竹木版年画，通过起稿、刻版、印墨、施彩、盖花等多道工序完成。在艺术构思上表达了四川人对生活特有的理解，而且实用性与趣味性并重，绘画性强。作为西南年画“三大产地”之一，这次四川绵竹年画馆给澳洲朋友带来了传统年画门神中不同的人物系列，如儿童、女性、文官、武将等，充溢着蜀地乡土气息。

中国文联书记处书记陈建文在开幕式致辞中向出席的嘉宾介绍了木版年画在中华文化中的重要意义以及中国木版年画正在申报联合国教科文组织“人类非物质遗产代表作名录”的有关情况。他认为，木版年画承载着民俗的生活理念，每一幅年画后面蕴涵着中国人的生活理念。维多利亚州议会议长布鲁斯.阿特金森一直致力于中国传统文化在澳洲的传播。他对艺术家们将中国民间文化带到澳洲的这一举动特别感慨：“在今天这个虚拟世界主导的社会中，把这项传统艺术在澳洲华人以及更大范围内推广开来，是一件意义非凡的事。这一活动给我们带来的最切实的感受，是虚拟技术难以企及的。”中国驻墨尔本总领事赵建认为，从长远角度来看，艺术文化在搭建中、澳两国间友谊桥梁的过程中扮演了一个非常重要的角色，它向西方社会展示中华文化最璀璨的一面，因为它体现了人们内心对美好事物的向往。

值得一提的是，联邦工党领袖多元文化顾问杨千惠向维州议会议长建议，希望能邀请更多澳洲本地人加入到像中国木版年画展这样的文化活动中来，让西方人对中国传统艺术有更多认识。杨千惠还打趣说道：“我想知道中华文化和澳洲的土著文化到底谁的历史更悠久？”在她看来，答案不言而喻。专程前来观展的维多利亚州华人社团联合会主席苏俊西和大洋洲文联主席傅红也对精彩纷呈的中国木版年画作品和年画艺人们的精湛技艺赞不绝口。

高山流水遇知音。在古筝现场演奏的悠扬乐声中，年画艺术家于福堂、马志强、胡光葵等除了演示印刷制作年画的全过程外，还过足了异域授徒的瘾。现场观众排起队来学习体验中国木版年画印制技艺，有的澳大利亚朋友觉得一次不尽兴，接着再排一次队。在中国年画师傅们耐心示范、手把手的指导下，来宾和观众完成了一次次中国传统文化艺术制作技艺的美妙体验，他们激动地捧着自己亲手印制的带有中国年画艺术家签名和印制的新鲜照片，高高兴兴回家。尽管本次展览只有短短的五天时间，但观者与艺人互动尽欢，其乐融融。

年画制作展示活动现场Showcase of Chinese New Year Painting in Australia

观众体验年画印制技艺Australian Audience Tried Printing of Chinese New Year Painting

相关链接：木版年画《水浒一百单八将》

清咸丰十一年（1861年）八月，太平军黑旗队北伐入境山东潍坊杨家埠村，迁延至九月拔营西去。其间有一位太平军的遗孤被北公义画店店主杨九省（1828年生）收养。此童无名无姓，便被呼为“长毛童子”。“长毛童子”聪明好学，开始在北公义画店画货，很快成了手绘年画的高手，继而又学朽稿画样。后来他创作了《水浒一百单八将》，所绘豪杰，个个英武，性格鲜明，栩栩如生。第一次刻版印刷后，全部运去胶州，不日抢购一空。杨九省见“长毛童子”长大成人，又是自己的得力助手，便为他娶妻成家，同时分给他足够的房屋、田产、农具和一头驴。有一年，杨家埠村续修《杨氏家谱》，未能将“长毛童子”写进，他深有感触。一日，他牵驴去寒亭赶集，把驴卖掉携款不辞而去，从此便无下落。

由于“长毛童子”不是杨家埠本地人，其作品极少流传后世。2005年3月，中国潍坊杨家埠画院和杨家埠百年名号“同顺德”画店成功复刻了《水浒一百单八将》这组巨幅年画。此作品样稿由年画研究专家马志强提供，杨家埠年画研究所所长季乃仓摹绘线稿，“同顺德”画店传人杨洛书和年画刻版高手颜克臣共同刻版。

木版年画组画《水浒一百单八将》是杨家埠年画鼎盛时期的艺术佳作，无论是雕版之细，构图之精，造型之美，人物之多，场面之大，篇幅之巨，在杨家埠年画史上都堪称第一。一百多年来，关于太平天国军“长毛童子”创作《水浒一百单八将》的逸事一直在民间流传，并且充满了传奇色彩。《水浒一百单八将》取材于历史小说《水浒传》，表现梁山聚义的英雄人物。此画为大贡笺四联画，每幅长110公分，宽60公分，以半印半绘的形式塑造出妇孺皆知的一百零八将形象。每幅皆采取军帐议事的情节，前面并有走马比武的场景。

On March 20, Ma Zhiqiang and Yu Futang, artists of Woodblock New Year Painting (NYP) in Yangjiabu brought the recarved and reprinted version of108 Outlaws of the Marshto melbourn, Australia where CFLAC, China Folk Literature and Arts Association (CFLAA),Multicultural Committee of Victoria State and Pacific Federation of Literary and Art Circles jointly sponsored,and Pacific Media Group, Pacific Arts Center, Sichuan Folk Literature and Arts Association (SFLAA), NYP Academy of Yangjiabu, Weifang City of Shandong Province and NYP Society of Mianzhu City of Sichuan Province undertook Chinese Woodblock NYP Exhibition whic won an extensive focus from the local public. Distinguished guests from both China and Australia,as wellas local citizens and fans in favor of Chinese culture gathered at Pacific Arts Center to appreciate the unique cultural charm and artistic flavor of Chinese Woodblock NYP.

The nearly 100 works in this exhibition covered almost Northern china all the varied categories of Chinese NYP, such as woodblock chromatograph, print-and-paint, hand-paint and the unique embroidery NYP. As one of the key places of origin for Northern china NYP Yangjiabu of Weifang City, Shandong Province presented some representative works of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) in the contents of exorcism for happiness, auspice and good luck, folkloric expressions,anecdotes and fiction, flowers and scenery, beauty and youth,such as DoorGods in Pair, God of Fortune with Five Kids,God of Fortune Brings Happiness, Grand Kitchen God, Money Tree, Legend of Empty Castle as Battle Array, Three Heroes Equaled Champion Marshal at Hulao Gate, Hundred Offspring in Birth Anniversary Celebration, ing Romance of the Western Chamber, Household Prosperity, 108 Outlaws of the Marsh and Flower in Antique. There were ofher ant pieces created after the founding of New China so as to reflect ing the new life of Chinese people such asHappy New Year, Good Wishes for Spring Festival, Thriving Domestic Livestock, Weaving Women in House, Thrift for Abundance, Leisurely Vacation,and Flying Kites. With varied themes and full categories, this exhibition almost involved the whole historical evolution of Woodblock NYP. Woodblock NYP from Mianzhu City, Sichuan Province is completed through such procedures as drafting,engraving, ink printing, adding colors and flower patterns. For its importance attached to both practicality and enjoyment as well as its strong feature of vivianess, their NYP conveys the unique understanding about life in artistic conception by local people in Sichuan Province. As one of the three main places of origin for Southwest China NYP, NYP Society of Mianzhu City of Sichuan Province dedicated to Australian audiences rather difterent figure series of Door God such as children, women,officials and marshals in the local spicy and passionate style.In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mr. Chen Jianwen,member of Secretariat of CFLAC, briefed all the guests over the special significance of woodblock NYP in Chinese culture as well as the update of Chinese woodblock NYP’s bid into the Human Intangible Heritage Masterpieces List of UNESCO. He said that, as a carrier of folkloric living concept, every piece of NYP embodies Chinese ideal for life. Mr. Bruce Atkinson,president of Legislative Council of Victoria State has been devoted to the spread of traditional Chinese culture. He made a special recognition as to Chinese folk artists’ bringing their culture to Australia, “Against the current society manipulated by VR, it is an extraordinary effort to promote this traditional Chinese art among Australian Chinese and even a larger scope.The vivid experience we have gained from this event is far beyond what VR can afford to us”. As Zhao Jian, the Consul General of China in Melbourne, held, from the long-term perspective, art and culture has played quite an important role in building up the friendship between China and Australia,as they showcase the most brilliant part of Chinese culture to the West and reflect Chinese people’s expectation for the good, the true and the beautiful.

There was an interesting detail during the event: Jennifer Yang, principal multicultural adviser, to Mr. Bruce Atkinson that more local people in Australia be invited to such a cultural event as Chinese Woodblock NYP Exhibition, so as to expand Hleir knowledge of traditional Chinese arts. “I would like to make it clear between Chinese cultural or the aboriginal culture in Australia whose history is comparatively timehonored.” she joked, as the answer was so obvious. Su Junxi,president of the Federation of Chinese Associations (Victoria State), and Fu Hong, president of PFLAC, both of whom came all the way for this exhibition, offered high remarks about the wonderful Chinese woodblock NYP and excellent skills of Chinese artists.

Chinese artists were lucky enough to meet so many fans in Australia. In the graceful melody of Chinese zither on live,Chinese NYP artists Yu Futang, Ma Zhiqiang and Hu Guangkui demonstrated the whole process of NYP manufacture as well as instructed plenty of audiences on how to make a NYP by themselves. The local audience patiently queued up to learn and the skill of Chinese woodblock NYP and some were even willing to queue again for this interesting art experience.Thanks to the patient showcase and hand-by-hand instruction by Chinese artists, guests and audiences fulfilled their perfect lesson of traditional Chinese culture and In the end they ended up excitedly holding the fresh phots of their own creation even with Chinese master’s signatures. Despite the short duration of five days, audiences and artists achieved a sound interaction in great harmony.

虎牢关三英战吕布Three Heroes Equaled Champion Marshal at Hulao Gate

空城计Legend of Empty Castle as Battle Array

Related Link: Woodblock NYP 108 Outlaws of the Marsh

In August 1861, a troop of Taiping rebellion invaded Yangjiabu Village of Weifang City, Shandong Province,then left in the direction of west in September.Within this time, an orphan of a Taiping martyr was adopted by Yang Jiusheng(born in 1828), owner of a NYP studio. As nobody knew his family name or given name, this child was then called “Rebel Kid”. With ms smart mind and diligent learning, this child started to learn NYP painting, became an expert in a short time and began to make model and patterns. This prodigy painted108 Outlaws of the Marshand every figure is endowed with handsome countenance, distinct character and vivid personality. After the first publication, all the works were sold out within a day in Jiaozhou City. At this, Yang Jiusheng took the young mar as his grown-up assistant, helped him to get married and allocate suf fi cient real estate, fi elds, farming facilities and a donkey to him.However, when the villagers compiled the genealogy of Yang family, this “Rebel Kid” was neglected.Unhappy,about it, one day he rode the donkey to a fair in Hanting and disappeared after selling the donkey.

As “Rebel Kid” was not a native in Yangjiabu Village,his works were indeed rare. In March 2005, Yangjiabu NYP Academy of Weifang City and Tongshunde Gallery of Centennial History succeeded in duplicating this giantNYP 108 Outlaws of the Marsh. The pattern was provided by Ma Zhiqiang, expert on NYP research, the draft was repainted by Ji Naicang, head of NYP Institute in Yangjiabu and the block made by Yang Luoshu, heir of Tongshunde Gallery, and Yang Kechen, master of NYP engraving.

This group woodblock NYP is a masterpiece in the prime time of Yangjiabu, as it took the lead on the aspects of delicate block, exquisite structure, plenty of vivid fi gures and great momentum in the NYP history at Yangjiabu.Over a century, the “Rebel Kid”s creation of108 Outlaws of the Marshhas become a popular legend. Adapted from the historic novelWater Margin, this huge four-painting combination with 110 cm in length and 60 cm in width presented those 108 heroes familiar to every household in china. In the formality of print and paint connection, the picture showed cavalry battle in the front and the military discussion at the back.

永镇家宅God of Everlasting Peace in Household

五子夺魁 （半印半绘）Five Kids in Competition for Championship(paint and print)

鸭官Young Duck Raiser