The tradition can be traced back to the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1278), when Chinese painting reached its apex. The most famous works of art of the Song include paintings like Travelers Among Mountains and Streams and Early Spring (both part of the controversial collection that went to the US last year), but these were, after all, part of elite culture for the court and literati.
中國人有年畫，始於南宋，中國繪畫藝術登峰造極的年代，前年故宮赴美展出國寶級的「溪山行旅圖」、「早春圖」即是宋代極品；然而，那到底是屬於皇親貴冑、文人士大夫的精緻文化。