The Images And Living Space Of Jiangnan Females In The Taohuawu Woodblock New Year Pictures During The Qing Dynasty

The woodblock New Year picture is a traditional art of China,as well as a valuable legacy of folk culture.Taohuawu woodblock New Year picture was produced in Suzhou,based on the secular social life,serving the public.It contained an abundant history and culture,and reflected the social life.The Qing Dynasty was the heyday of the Taohuawu Woodblock New Year picture,during which a large number of beauty woodblock paintings were produced that displayed the living conditions of Jiangnan females in many aspects,and enriched the history of women from the aspect of images.Suzhou had the prosperous economy,exquisite handicrafts,and rich folk culture in the Qing Dynasty,which laid the foundation for the birth and development of Taohuawu woodblock New Year picture.The woodblock New Year picture had exquisite productions,diverse subjects,and sold widely.The picture shaped females images which are delicate and elegant.For the living space,surrounded by the mountains and rivers,with delicate furnishings,all contribute to the comfortable and elegant living space to enhance the beauty of females.For the daily activities,sometimes they weaved and embroidered,sometimes they played lyre,chess,calligraphy and painting,sometimes they played with the children.Women performed duties such as working,children caring and so on,while attending the colorful activities,created spiritual space for themselves.Most of the female images presented in the woodblock New Year picture are beautiful and pleasant.On the one hand,they reflected the reality in some extent,on the other hand,they reflected the males' aesthetics and expectations of the ideal females.As the pictures were made by the males and were highly consistent with the writings of the males,reflected the fact that women were the object of being seen,the subjectivity of women is still lacking.But at the same time,the female build up their colorful life in their own space,realized their value and had some fun in life.The social role for female is very compelx.