The direct translation of 'Banhua' is 'printed picture', it is a general term for original prints or printmaking as an art form. 'Banhua' is composed of two characters: 'ban' means 'block' and 'hua' means 'picture'. Banhua's meaning does not limited in prints in Chinese style.

As printing first appeared in 3rd century China, artists started to use woodblock printing or other methods to spread their works. Buddhist classics, novel illustrations, and the banknote were among the first public works to be printed in China. From the 17th century, prints of New Year pictures became popular.

The art of calligraphy is however widely practiced and revered in the East Asian civilizations that used Chinese characters. These include China, Japan, Korea, and to a lesser extent, Vietnam. In addition to being an art form in its own right, calligraphy has also influenced ink and wash painting, which is accomplished using similar tools and techniques. The East Asian tradition of calligraphy originated and developed from China, specifically the ink and brush writing of Chinese characters.