Jiama is a form of folk woodblock printing found across Yunnan. The prints have traditionally been connected with blessings, festivals, protection and important moments in family or community life.
In Dali’s Bai communities, Jiama developed distinct local images and uses. Travelers may encounter the tradition in workshops where they ink an existing carved block, place paper over it and reveal a print by hand.
That accessibility is valuable, but Jiama should not be reduced to a decorative souvenir class. It belonged to local life before it became a visitor activity.
What Does Jiama Mean?
Jiama images are carved into wooden blocks and transferred onto paper. Subjects can include human figures, animals, deities, buildings, natural forces or written characters.
Different prints have been associated with wishes for safety, good fortune, a successful journey, harvests or significant family occasions. It is misleading to treat every image as an “armored horse,” even though the Chinese name can invite that literal reading. Jiama is a broad folk-print tradition whose forms differ across Yunnan.
In Fengyu, north of Dali, local accounts connect the prints with Lunar New Year, weddings, travel, study and hopes for health or a good harvest. The images show how ordinary people gave visible form to concerns and wishes.
How Is a Print Made?
Creating the wooden block requires skill. The maker selects or draws an image, reverses the design and carves its lines into wood.
A short visitor workshop normally begins with a prepared block:
- Learn what the chosen image represents.
- Apply ink or color evenly.
- Position paper over the block.
- Press or brush the paper carefully.
- Lift the paper and reveal the print.
The reveal is immediate and satisfying, but a strong workshop explains more than technique. It identifies who carved the block, where the design came from and what it meant in its original setting.
Where Can Travelers Encounter Jiama?
Public reporting and cultural documentation connect Jiama with Fengyu, Shaxi, Weishan and other parts of the wider Dali region.
Fengyu’s tradition remains close to village life. Shaxi and nearby communities have a visible craft scene where traditional images also appear in contemporary prints and products. Weishan offers another setting in which Jiama can be understood alongside markets, architecture and local food.
None should be treated as a guaranteed walk-in attraction. Workshop hosts, access, prices and English-language support can change. Confirm the named host, date, transport and actual activity before making a special journey.
Is Jiama Religious Art?
It can be understood through both folk belief and visual culture, but neither English label describes every use.
Some images were associated with ritual, deities or particular forms of protection. Others expressed wishes related to travel, agriculture or family life. Visitors do not need to adopt a belief to appreciate the tradition, but they should understand that an image may carry meaning beyond decoration.
Before printing or buying a piece, ask:
- What does this image represent?
- When was it traditionally used?
- Who carved the block?
- Is it a traditional design or a contemporary interpretation?
- Is it appropriate to display at home?
- May it be photographed or reproduced commercially?
Making one print does not automatically give permission to reproduce the design on merchandise.
How to Choose a Responsible Experience
“Authentic” does not mean unchanged for centuries. It means the host is honest about what is traditional, what is newly designed and what the traveler is doing.
Look for a named craftsperson or cultural host, a clear regional origin for the images, enough time to print carefully, transparent duration and pricing, and a clear policy on taking the finished work home.
Be cautious when the experience offers costumes, staged photographs and an unidentified block but no cultural explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international visitors make a Jiama print?
Yes, where an appropriate workshop is operating. Confirm access and language support in advance.
Do visitors carve the block?
Short workshops generally use an existing block. Complete carving requires more time and skilled instruction.
Is Jiama the same as a Chinese New Year print?
No. Both may use folk-printing techniques, but their regional histories, images and uses differ.
Can I take the print home?
Often yes, with the host’s permission. Protect it from moisture and ask before reproducing the design.
Is it suitable for children?
The printing stage often is, with adult supervision around ink, tools and carved blocks.
Sources and Verification
Cultural information was rechecked on August 4, 2026 using Xinhua Yunnan’s introduction to Bai Jiama, Dali Daily’s account of Jiama in Fengyu life, June 16, 2026 and China National Radio’s Shaxi report, February 22, 2026.
Interested in adding Jiama or another Bai cultural experience to a Dali journey? Project Unicorn can help verify the host, transport and actual workshop content before it becomes part of the itinerary.