Rebranding New China Through Replicas: The Rise and Fall of Woodblock Facsimiles in China since 1949

Cultural diplomacy played and still plays a key role in China's foreign policy since 1949. Alongside sending artists to tour foreign lands, presenting state gifts with significant cultural meanings to foreign guests is an equally common practice. Among an eclectic mix of objects, classical Chinese paintings are always a popular choice for such gifts. This paper will discuss the rise and fall of woodblock facsimiles of classical Chinese paintings used to serve this purpose by examining the visual representations, technical methods, and contemporary impacts in line with the rapidly changing national image of China.