World Intangible Cultural Heritage in China --- Chinese Paper-cut (Part One)

No matter in the South or the North of China, people like to cut out auspicious patterns from red paper to increase festive atmosphere at holiday celebration and wedding ceremony. As one of China’s oldest folk arts, paper cutting has many schools and different styles. Some are bold, some simple, some exquisite, and some delicate.

Paper cutting, commonly known as “cutting patterns”, has rooted in people since its origin. Because it is widespread, paper cutting is divided into Southern school and Northern school. The northern paper cut features boldness, as the character of the northern people. For example, the main subject of northern paper cut in Ansai, Shaanxi is simple farming, which reflects the Loessland people hope for peace and good fortune.

Picture: Chinese Paper-cut---Chinese Dragon above the Great Wall
The southern paper cut characterizes by tender and grace. For example, the Tonglu paper cut in Zhejiang is unsophisticated, delicate, and exquisite, which shows the unique temperament of the south area of the Yangtze River. The creation of paper cutting is based on exquisite meticulous paintings, which adds some human spirit into the folk art of paper cutting. It is also such an artistic pursuit that makes paper cutting distinct from other folk arts.

Picture: Chinese Paper-cut---Peacock
According to the historical documents and the study on paper cut works, Chinese folk paper cutting originated in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and had a history of more than 1,500 years. The development of the paper cutting art has never halted. In the Qing Dynasty, the art of paper cutting entered a new stage. The close combination of the art of paper cut and the art of calligraphy and painting made the art of paper cut reach a peak.

Picture: Chinese Paper-cut---Lotus
During this period, paper cut drew lessons from traditional paintings, no matter in the subject, content, implication, cutting and carving techniques, designs or layout, so paper-cut art obtained the sublimation. A poet once admired the ingenuity of paper-cutting art: “Paper cut combined with paintings is superior to mere paper cut. Birds fly through flowers and fish swim by duckweed. No matter how capable the spring wind in February is, the willow leaves cut out by the wind is not as good as those in paper cut.”

Picture: Chinese Paper-cut---Beauty in Swing
Paper cut art is a folk art that is easy to learn and difficult to master. To create a unique paper cut work requires not only rich content, themes and forms, but also prefect craftsmanship. The skills of paper-cut art depend to a large extent on the ability of controlling the line. Based on practical experience, some paper cut masters summarize the tricks of paper cut lines into five words: “roundness, sharpness, squareness, vacancy, threads”. Good works must be: round as the moon, sharp as the awn, square as the blue brick, like vacancy between saw teeth, and like threads as a beard.
(To Be Continued)