Yantai High-Tech Zone's "Year of the Horse " Fabric Art Product Selected as "China Gift"
Source: Jiaodong Online Reporter: Yang Lin
Recently, the final review results of the 2025 "China Gift" Creative Design Competition, organized by the China Gift & Leisure Products Industry Association, were announced. The "Five-Colored Horse" zodiac-themed fabric art product submitted by Yantai Minsheng Printing Arts Co., Ltd. from Yantai High-Tech Zone stood out among thousands of national entries, winning the gold prize and being included in the "China Gift" recommended list. This product is a high-quality cultural and creative masterpiece that combines intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritance with modern Chinese aesthetic trends .
As a leading national ICH IP, the "China Gift" Creative Design Competition, since its inception in 2019, has focused on promoting the deep integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern demands. Through authoritative expert evaluations, it identifies high-quality cultural and creative products that combine artistic beauty, practical value, and market potential. The winning Five-Colored Horse zodiac fabric art is a masterpiece by Zhu Wuxue, a municipal-level ICH inheritor of Jiaodong woodblock printing. The work faithfully reproduces the typical Tang Dynasty horse posture-long neck, round rump, and flowing mane-and continues the aesthetic traits of the prosperous Tang period, characterized by strength and vigor. It not only re-creates the spirited presence of the steed in the famous painting Zhao Ye Bai Tu but also incorporates the poetic imagery of Li Bai's verse "five-colored horse, thousand-gold fur coat," blending auspicious meanings such as "success upon arrival" and "dragon-horse spirit" with festive themes like "prosperous steed" and "horse welcoming spring." This makes it a vivid carrier for inheriting the Chinese zodiac culture.
In terms of craftsmanship, the work follows the design philosophy of "tradition as the root, modernity as the soul." It upholds the essence of handmade silk screen printing, using traditional processes such as screen plate making and ink scraping to accurately reproduce classic Tang patterns-such as treasure flower motifs, scroll grass patterns, and interlaced lotus designs-onto the fabric. The patterns are clear, vivid, and richly colored, combining historical gravitas with artistic beauty, thus revitalizing millennia-old fabric for contemporary appreciation. The shape design balances majestic charm with approachable texture; smooth, rounded lines paired with soft fabric material retain the dignified bearing of Tang horses while presenting an endearing visual effect, suitable for various scenarios including festive displays, cultural promotion, and gift exchanges.
Zhu Wuxue, the ICH inheritor, stated that Jiaodong woodblock printing is a distinctive folk art of the Shandong Peninsula region. Using carving knives as brushes and cloth as canvas, it features bold, concise forms, simple yet bright colors, and a style that is both elegant and dynamic. It is a representation of Jiaodong's local culture engraved on silk screens and reflected in everyday life on cotton cloth. He expressed his commitment to further explore in the field of cultural and creative products, creating works themed around zodiac animals, solar terms, landscapes, and figures, opening new paths for the inheritance and innovation of intangible cultural heritage.
