Đông Hồ woodblock print “Thiên Hạ Thái Bình” – Peace Under Heaven | Artisan Nguyễn Hữu Đạo

Under a flowering tree, a plowman rests near his plow, his buffalo lying at his feet.

History and symbolism

The characters 太平天下 evoke "peace under heaven" (Thiên hạ thái bình). After plowing, the farmer enjoys a moment of rest, the teapot within easy reach, while the buffalo ruminates. The image expresses a New Year's wish: a country at peace, a serene people, and a peaceful year in which work is rewarded.

Craftsmanship

Hand-printed by Nguyễn Hữu Đạo, an Đông Hồ artisan who hid in 1990, and a member of the fifteenth generation of a family of printmakers, recognized as a master artisan by Bắc Ninh Province in 2024. A wooden block engraved for each color, natural pigments, dó paper coated with iridescent shell powder (điệp), and the artisan's red seal. Hand-printed: slight variations from one print to another.

Decoration & gift idea

Serene and horizontal, it is ideal for hanging above a sofa or bed, or in an office. A gift of peace and serenity.

Đông Hồ prints in brief

A Vietnamese heritage nearly five centuries old, Đông Hồ folk prints originated in the village of the same name in Thuận Thành (Bắc Ninh Province). Each image is made entirely by hand, from the drawing and block carving to the printing, and its themes—wishes for happiness, scenes of daily life, history, and worship—have made it the traditional image of Têt, the Lunar New Year. In December 2025, UNESCO added this craft, which is still perpetuated by only a few families, to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Specifications

• Size: 27 × 36 cm
• Orientation: Landscape (horizontal)
• Technique: woodblock print (wood engraving), hand-printed
• Support: dó paper coated with shell powder (điệp)
• Natural pigments
• Signed with the seal of artisan Nguyễn Hữu Đạo
• Sold unframed – the framing shown in the lifestyle photos is for illustrative purposes only
• Origin: Đông Hồ village, Thuận Thành, Bắc Ninh Province, Vietnam