Repositioning Đông Hồ Folk Woodblock Printings Within East Asian Cultural Interactions: From National Heritage to Global Heritage Discourse

Abstract

Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings are a representative form of Vietnamese traditional art that reflects the cultural life and aesthetic thinking of the Red River Delta communities. Previously, studies on Đông Hồ prints have largely approached the tradition from the perspective of conventional art history, with limited engagement with intercultural contexts and contemporary theoretical frameworks. This study approaches Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings through the theories of ”the social life of things” and ”the invention of tradition,” aiming to clarify the cultural, historical, and identity values of this art form in relation to Chinese New Year paintings, Japanese Ukiyo-e, and Korean Minhwa. Simultaneously, the study analyzes the transformation of Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings from a traditional craft village art form to a National Intangible Cultural Heritage element and its subsequent inscription on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This article employs qualitative research methods including analysis, comparative literature review, semi-structured interviews, and non-participatory observation. The results show that Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings both preserve Vietnamese cultural identity and demonstrate cultural exchanges with East Asia through their technique, content, and aesthetic value. The research contributes to a new theoretical perspective and proposes direction s for preserving and promoting the value of Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings in the contemporary context and the context of international integration.