年画是中国民间喜闻乐见的一种艺术形式，是我国传统绘画的一个独立画种，主要用于岁时年节张贴，故称之为年画。年画的概念，特指年节之时张贴于住宅内外，由地方作坊刻绘制作的绘画作品；泛指一切由民间艺人创作并经地方作坊刻画作品。中国民间年画不仅内容形式丰富多彩，而且有着丰富的文化与历史内涵。

本书分为镇宅门神、民间诸神、娃娃仕女，风俗节令、故事戏文五大部分。对主要的图例加以简要的解说，书前附专题论文一篇，对民间年画的源流、地域特色、类型风格加以论述，力图使读者对民间年画的内涵能有基本的了解。

New Year Picture (Nianhua) derives its name from the age-old custom of Chinese New Year decorations. A fascinating and popular art form, it in fact constitutes a separate branch of traditional Chinese ainting. The concept of New Year Picture refers to painted works made by local workshops and regularly posted inside and outside homes. New Year Picture encompasses all such paintings reflecting rural and urban lives, handmade by folk artisans, as well as those carved or produced and painted in local workshops. Folk New Year Picture possesses colorful detail with abundant cultural and historical connotations.

There are five major categories of Chinese New Year Pictures discussed in this book: Door Gods, Folk Deities, Cute Babies and Beauties, Customs and Festivals, Stories and Local Operas. The principal images are explained with brief captions. Most of the New Year Pictures collected in this book are made by folk masters from every area of China.

Introdction

Door Gods

Military Door Gods

Civil Door Gods

Folk Deities

Enshrined Deity Images

Ceremonial Deity Images

Cute Babies and Beauties

Cute Babies

Beauties

Custioms and Feativals

Daily Life

Auspicious Pictures and Symbols

New Year Calendar Print

Stories and Drames

Stories

Dramas