Jiama

Jiama is a type of woodblock printing utilized in ancient times for praying for blessings and averting disasters.

Originating in the Tang Dynasty, it thrived during the Song Dynasty.

Upon its introduction from the Central Plains to Yunnan,

it has been preserved over the ages to this day.

In 2017, Dali Jiama was selected for

the third batch of the representative list of provincial intangible cultural heritage items in Yunnan.

Jiama is an outcome of traditional artistic expression and cultural rituals,

with a history of over 1000 years.

However, the Jiama art has just been recognized as intangible cultural heritage for over a decade.

In May 4, 2025,

the School of Arts Management, Yunnan Arts University (YNAU),

in collaboration with Zhang Renhua, a Jiama intangible cultural heritage inheritor,

held an event at the Maitreya Temple Park.

The event featured a dialogue on the theme of “Jiama Experience in the Park: Boundless Creativity of Intangible Cultural Heritage”

and Jiama woodblock printing experience activities,

attracting many citizens.

Zhang Renhua, a representative inheritor of Jiama,

and Ai Jia,

a teacher in the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection, the School of Arts Management, YNAU,

introduced Jiama and its intriguing stories

to the general public

through interviews.

They also narrated the intangible cultural heritage behind Jiama woodblock printing

and demonstrated to the audience

techniques and methods of using engraving and rubbing tools.

Guided by guidance from the inheritor and Jiama cultural and creative designers,

and supported by volunteers majoring in intangible cultural heritage protection from the School of Arts Management,

participants attempted to complete

their Jiama woodblock printing rubbing works,

showing their admiration for fine traditional Chinese culture.

This event

fosters an effective connection between the

"professional small classroom" of the School of Arts Management of YNAU and "social large classroom".

It facilitates the inheritance, protection, and innovative fusion of diverse ethnic cultures and

allows intangible cultural heritage to shine even more enchantingly,

achieving of goal of "intangible cultural heritage for the people, shared by the people".

Intangible cultural heritage is no longer a concealed history.

It represents the cultural pulse deeply ingrained in everyday life.

In the future,

The School of Arts Management of YNAU will

continue to advance school-community collaborations

and explore dynamic approaches for preservation.

It aims to develop "tangible, perceptible, and shareable" intangible cultural heritage experience projects,

establishing a connection between traditional techniques and contemporary aesthetics.