Over time interest in the traditional picture storybooks had
declined and in recent years they seemed to almost disappear
altogether. However, they appear to be making a dramatic comeback
having reappeared in shops recently and become a 'hot item' --
particularly with collectors.??
The picture storybooks, Lianhuanhua or
Xiaorenshu in Chinese, usually no bigger than the palm of
an adult's hand and made up of pictures with brief captions, were
first used as 'insets' in books.
After 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded it
became an extremely popular art form. During this period a
Lianhuanhua storybook could have a print run of several hundred
thousand or even millions.
The genre has very strong links to several Chinese
characteristics. Lianhuanhua artists use traditional Chinese
painting, folk art and even calligraphic skills to retell Chinese
classic novels, popular movies, stage dramas and even Beijing Opera
through the pictures. Western art techniques such as sketching,
print-making, oil painting, pastels and watercolors are also
used.
However, interest in Lianhuanhua began to wane in the early
1980s and gradually they disappeared from the marketplace as the
huge number of new and diverse leisure options hit the market.
Television and foreign comic books are regarded by many as having
started the decline.
Since 2000, Lianhuahua has started to return to lives and
households with interest at collectors' markets growing. However,
this early upsurge in interest seems to be with readers who are in
fact in the over-30 age group. To them these storybooks seem to
generate feelings of nostalgia and a gentle reminder of childhood
days.
For some collectors the purchase of the storybooks at fairs and
auctions is viewed as being a sound investment for the
future.?
As a great fan of Lianhuahua, Mr. Xu has collected several
hundred copies. He hopes that this particular art form can find a
cozy home for itself in the lives of very modern children. "How
could this genre that combines historical knowledge, traditional
Chinese culture and many art forms ever really die?"
As a cultural product, Lianhuanhua should cater for the
interests of the general public, said Pang Xianjian, a director of
the editorial department with Shanghai People's Art Publishing
House. The art and historic value of Lianhuanhua cannot be replaced
by comic strips, observed Pang.
After publishing the 'gift packed' A Dream of Red
Mansions --one of the four Chinese classics -- Pang's
publishing house plans to publish more Lianhuanhua to attract more
readers. "I'm confident that the revival of Lianhuanhua has started
in earnest and will find its way into the lives of Chinese all over
the world!" Pang added.
(China.org.cn by Li Shen, February 24, 2006)