Traditional new－year wood prints from Zhuxianzhen village in central China's Henan province have been well known for centuries. The tradition dates back more than 400 years to the Ming Dynasty. But many of the oldest and most precious wood prints have been stolen, with many smuggled overseas decades ago. Recently, 18 of them, made in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), were brought back to their rightful home.

These 18 new－year wood prints were smuggled to Japan during China's war of resistance against Japan. After changing hands several times, they were bought by a Japanese collector who loves Chinese traditional new－year wood prints. Being a good friend of China, he decided to return them to their homeland. Since their return they have been kept in the Zhuxianzhen New－Year Wood Prints Research Society in Kaifeng city, Henan province.

There are now about 190 different designs of Zhuxianzhen new－year wood prints. But these 18 pictures are not among them. Several of them are yet to be used to make prints. When they are, designs that have not been seen in China for many years will be reborn.