Swallow on Flowering Branch

These prints, all illustrated by one of the manual's artists, Ling Yunhan, reveal diverse techniques and styles, including ink monochrome; fine line and colors; and boneless (motif without outline). Color and ink in subtle gradations were precisely printed in the minute spaces inside the images of feathers, leaves and petals.

White-crested Bird on Camellia, for example, combines fine outlines and the boneless technique in a snow scene. The background is printed in light grayish blue, shaded from light to dark tones in an irregular contour, leaving the blank paper to represent white snow piled on leafy branches and flowers. The complex and delicate details resulted from well-carved blocks and adept printing skill.