Zhangda

Zhangda

　　Zhangda

　　Zhangda is an original folk handicraft that resembles the “face-changing” technique in traditional drama. It was quite popular among the people of Wuqiang during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The craft consists of six double-sided painted boards, each adorned with various New Year painting designs, cleverly connected together. By holding one end and gently shaking it, 22 distinct images can be sequentially revealed, resembling the “face-changing” art in drama, and is full of fun. However, due to its complexity, this craft technique disappeared as early as the 1940s amid the turmoil of war.

　　In recent years, in an effort to rescue intangible cultural heritage, Guo Shurong, a master of Chinese arts and crafts and former director of the Wuqiang New Year Painting Museum, has revitalized and innovated “Zhangda,” a distinctive handicraft among Wuqiang New Year paintings. Through interviews with veteran folk New Year painting artists, he excavated, refined, and modernized this tradition, bringing it back to the arts and crafts market in a vibrant new form. The newly reintroduced “Zhangda” selects treasured historical pieces from Wuqiang New Year paintings as reproduction patterns, while maintaining excellence in both craftsmanship and materials. This unique handicraft, which displays multiple images without relying on any mechanical or magnetic mechanisms, combines artistry, ingenuity, and entertainment. It has become a favored item for collectors and gift-givers, winning the admiration of people from all walks of life, both in China and abroad.