Yangzhou Old News

Author: Wei Minghua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Mr. Wang Jiaju of Suzhou, based on the immense historical and artistic value of "Dian Shi Zhai Huabao," planned a series titled "Late Qing Social News Illustrated" with cities as units. He invited me to compile a volume titled "Old News of Yangzhou," and I readily accepted the task. Jiaju used a type of "Dian Shi Zhai Huabao" printed on Xuan paper, which I had never seen before. According to his rough estimate, the number of plates for Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Yangzhou was relatively limited, with only fewer than eighty plates related to Yangzhou. However, after my careful review and supplemented by other versions, I discovered many additional plates, especially those featuring news stories about Yangzhou people living outside the city. Now, "Old News of Yangzhou" includes 146 plates, which can truly be called a magnificent collection.