Engraving printing technology (Hangzhou engraving printing technology)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: block printing technology (Hangzhou block printing technology)

Applicant: Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Item No.: 428

Project No.: VIII - 78

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Zhejiang Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Protection unit: Hangzhou Huang Xiaojian engraving art studio

Introduction to engraving printing technology (Hangzhou engraving printing technology)

Applicant: Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

From yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, Hangzhou block printing was very developed. In 1957, the East China branch of the Central Academy of Fine Arts set up a woodblock watermark factory. Hangzhou woodblock printing technology made a qualitative leap and became one of the four woodblock watermark bases in China at that time.

Hangzhou engraving printing is to write (draw) the words or images to be printed on thin paper, and then paste them on the surface of the board. The engraving craftsman carves them into reverse convex characters to form a printing plate. When printing, first brush the ink on the surface of the printing plate, then cover the paper on the printing plate, brush it evenly with a clean brush, after lifting the paper, the pictures and texts on the printing plate will be clearly transferred to the paper, so as to complete a printing. The whole process is roughly divided into three procedures: material selection, engraving and printing. There are altogether 21 techniques, including steaming, plate picking, planing, plate grinding, draft tracing, fist knife, chipping, heavy knife, bottom shoveling, shaping, draft matching, paper clamping, plate matching, color matching, dry printing, wet printing, "brush", "calender", "duster", stencil and embossing. Printing products have always been famous for "excellent material selection, exquisite engraving, and exquisite printing". The later famous watermarks' reproductions are also known as "the first class of authentic works", and there are many outstanding works in the world.

Due to the development of modern printing technology and other reasons, the traditional Hangzhou block printing is now facing a crisis. At present, only a few inheritors such as Huang Xiaojian still adhere to the traditional engraving printing. The protection and inheritance work is imminent.