Winter Celebration Blessing Series Posters

Among the festive celebrations in Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year stands as the most grand occasion and the period when folk art flourishes most vibrantly. New Year paintings and window-flower paper-cuttings are indispensable folk artworks and decorations for festive displays, while auspicious patterns are among the most prevalent motifs in folk art. As the ancients said: "Auspiciousness signifies blessings and virtue; good omens herald joyous celebrations." The pursuit of good fortune and celebration has been a constant human aspiration throughout history. Auspicious patterns, through their unique artistic expression, reflect people's yearning, hope, and expectations for a bright and happy life.

Folk art employs various techniques such as homophones, allegories, and symbolism. For instance, "oil chrysanthemum" (油菊) sounds like "good fortune" (有吉), "purple viper's bugloss" (堇菜) sounds like "prosperity" (進財), and the "phoenix" symbolizes universal peace. Seeing the "year-reporting orchid" (報歲蘭) bloom signifies peace year after year. During the cold winter solstice, drawing inspiration from everyday objects and amplifying their symbolic meanings for a brighter future, folk art ingeniously reflects the aspiration for a better life, becoming a distinctive expression within Chinese cultural arts. Throughout China's traditional calendar, each dynasty followed the convention of "establishing the new year and rectifying the state affairs." The Xia Dynasty designated the first lunar month as the New Year, the Shang Dynasty designated the twelfth lunar month as the beginning of the year, while the Zhou Dynasty adopted the eleventh lunar month. Beginning in the Han Dynasty, the first lunar month of the Xia Dynasty was reinstated as the first month, a practice continuing to this day. Thus, in Chinese culture, the lunar months from November to January feature winter celebrations that carry the meaning of breaking through to spring. The lunar calendar regulates the lunar cycle, while the 24 solar terms are recorded according to the solar cycle of the solar calendar. This practice of using the lunar calendar for daily life and the solar calendar for festivals embodies the I Ching's emphasis on the harmonious balance of yin and yang.

This series of four posters captures the essence of winter—a season for nurturing vitality, celebrating the new year, and envisioning the future. Drawing inspiration from Taiwan's unique winter-blooming flowers, the designs incorporate auspicious phrases and imagery. They align with the traditional I Ching's balance of yin and yang: the completion of the "Excess" hexagram, the rebirth of the "Not Yet Crossed" hexagram, the continued cultivation of the "Difficulty in Starting" hexagram, and the rising prosperity of the "Ascending" hexagram. Drawing upon the connection between the I Ching and the solar terms, the designs combine the homophonic imagery of Taiwan's endemic flowers with muted, low-saturation color elements to express winter's crispness and tranquility. The interplay between nature's seasonal blooms and the I Ching's principles presents a vision of cherishing nature, embracing sustainable cycles, and perpetual renewal.

1. "年年有吉" (Nián Nián Yǒu Jí - "Abundance Year After Year"): Features the Taiwanese endemic species Chrysanthemum arisanense (Ālǐshān yóu jú - Alishan Oil Chrysanthemum), combined with the "Light Snow" Solar Term and the "Dà Guò" hexagram from the I-Ching.

2. "榮華富貴" (Róng Huá Fù Guì - "Prosperity and Wealth"): Features the Taiwanese endemic species Viola formosana Hayata (Chuānshàng shì jǐn cài - Kawakami Violet), combined with the "Heavy Snow" Solar Term and the "Wèi Jì" hexagram from the I-Ching.

3. "永保安康" (Yǒng Bǎo Ān Kāng - "Eternal Peace and Health"): Features the Taiwanese endemic species Camellia japonica (Fènghuáng shān chá huā - Phoenix Mountain Camellia), combined with the "Moderate Cold" Solar Term and the "Zhūn" hexagram from the I-Ching.

4. "成功歸來" (Chéng Gōng Guī Lái - "Return with Success"): Features the Taiwanese native plant Cymbidium sinense (Bào suì lán - Success Orchid), combined with the "Severe Cold" Solar Term and the "Shēng" hexagram from the I-Ching.