| [ Paper-cut Generals
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| Paper-cut is one of China's most popular and
characteristic folk arts. It takes paper as the material and scissor
or engraving knife as the tool. The tradition can be traced back
to the 6th century. However, it probably emerged even a few centuries
earlier. In Chinese culture paper-cuts symbolize the idea of blessedness,
luck and fortune. Most Chinese families use them as window decorations
and patterns, and for religious and decoration purposes. |
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In the past, paper-cutting works were sometimes
used for religious purpose, serving as decorations
for sacrificial offerings to the ancestors and gods.
While nowadays, people use paper-cutting works as
decorations for entrance gates, windows, walls, columns,
mirrors, lamps and lanterns. During some important
festivals, such as China's traditional Spring Festival,
it is very significant to paste some paper-cuts on
entrance gates. They are supposed to bring good luck
for the family. Besides, paper-cutting works are also
?used for decoration on presents or are given as presents.
Some paper-cuts are specially made into embroidery
base patterns used in decorating clothes and lacquer
work.
The paper-cut art has been widely
spread and of a long history. It has exerted an influence
on decorative patterns, leather silhouette, printed
cloth, embroidery and paintings. Folk paper cutting
outlines the natural forms by way of employing characters,
symbol and implication to constitute beautiful patterns.
In some rural areas in China, various paper objects
and symbolic figures are used to be buried with the
passed. | |
| Paper-cuts are produced by hand,
not by machine. There are two methods of manufacture: scissor
cuttings and knife cuttings. By scissor cutting, artists put several
pieces of paper together, and then cut out the motif with sharp,
pointed scissors. By knife cutting, artists put several layers
of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture
of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artists hold a sharp
knife vertically and cut the motif into the paper. Considerably
more paper-cuttings can be made in one operation with knife cuttings
than with scissor cuttings.
As a form of folk art, it occupies
a significant position in the folk activities. Since the time
as early as the Southern Song dynasty, professional paper-cutting
craftsmen have emerged. Today, in the countryside, usually only
women and girls make paper-cuts. It used to be even one of the
craftsmanship that every girl was to master and that were often
used to judge brides.
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| Forms of Folk Paper-Cut |
Window
Paper-Cutting
Window paper-cutting refers to the type of paper-cutting works
pasted on windows as an ornament. In the north of China, farmers'
houses are mostly windowed with wooden squares. It is commonly
seen that a layer of white leather paper is pasted on the vertical
squares, rectangular squares or geometrically patterned squares.
In case of some important holidays, such as Spring Festival, instead
of the old leather paper, new paper-cutting work is pasted as
a symbol of bidding farewell to the outgoing year and ushering
the New Year in. The fauna and flora, figurines as well as a series
of theatrical tales can all become the themes of the window paper-cuts.
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| Gate Label
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Festival Paper-Cutting |
| It is a
type of paper-cutting works that hang on the gate sills.
It is also called "hanging label", "hanging money". It
is in the form of flag with big head, double size and
lower part as tassel. It is engraved on red paper or multi-colored
paper, with geometrical patterns. Embedded with figures,
flowers, phoenix, dragons and the other propitious characters,
the gate label must be hung in series when hung up. |
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It is used to decorate
the household appliances and indoor furniture, such as
teapot, soapbox, basin, and dressing mirror. It takes
the form of circle, rectangle, peach, pomegranate and
other propitious patterns. The auspicious themes and red
color imply happiness. |
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| Gift
Paper-Cutting |
Shoe Paper-Cutting |
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| Gift paper-cut is attached
to cake, birthday noodle and egg. In Shandong Province,
people attach it onto the "happy egg" to celebrate a baby's
birth. Tortoise-patterned paper cuts symbolic of longevity
are commonly seen in the countryside of Fujian Province. |
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Served as the base
pattern for shoe embroidery, it is cut into a bundle of
flowers or a shape of crescent moon, which are embroidered
on the head of shoe or matched to the size of the shoe
vamp and along the two ends. With themes of flora fauna
and birds, shoe paper-cut makes possible doubled needling
and color changing, two embroidery techniques. |
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| Paper-Cutting Flower Bundle |
| This kind of paper cutting has a layout pattern.
It takes a form of a circle-shaped flower with two or four even
sizes. The paper can be folded up and cut into a flower bundle
in two or four even sides. This pattern has its great merit in
decoration. |
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