China / Beijing

Paper Cutting

Introducing the Paper Cutting (Jian Zhi)

According to the unearthed relics, paper cutting appeared during the Northern Dynasty (386-581) with a history of more than 1,500 years. At first, Paper cutting was only popular among the countryside, and the masters were farmwives. Today, the art has developed into an art form that can fully represent Chinese traditional folk culture. The early papercut might be related to worshipping gods, evocation and sacrificing to the dead. It has gradually become a decoration for the festivals and ceremonies nowadays. For example, on the first day of the new lunar year, every household would hang spring festival couplets and paste window lowers, which shows a festival atmosphere.On the Lantern Festival on the 15thday of the first lunar month, the lanterns will be pasted with papercut, which is even more flowery and attractive. And on a wedding day, the door and windows will be pasted with a large red Chinese letter 囍(double happiness) to show people's happiness.With a wild scope of subjects, the folk papercut forms allegorical pictures through techniques such as partial tone and symbolization. For example, peaches symbolize longevity and pomegranate represents fertility; “Dragon and Phoenix is a good omen” indicating a happy and holy marriage; and “a magpie standing on a twig” means a good thing will happen. According to the unearthed relics, paper cutting appeared during the Northern Dynasty (386-581) with a history of more than 1,500 years. At first, Paper cutting was only popular among the countryside, and the masters were farmwives. Today, the art has developed into an art form that can fully represent Chinese traditional folk culture. The early papercut might be related to worshipping gods, evocation and sacrificing to the dead. It has gradually become a decoration for the festivals and ceremonies nowadays. For example, on the first day of the new lunar year, every household would hang spring festival couplets and paste window lowers, which shows a festival atmosphere.On the Lantern Festival on the 15thday of the first lunar month, the lanterns will be pasted with papercut, which is even more flowery and attractive. And on a wedding day, the door and windows will be pasted with a large red Chinese letter 囍(double happiness) to show people's happiness.With a wild scope of subjects, the folk papercut forms allegorical pictures through techniques such as partial tone and symbolization. For example, peaches symbolize longevity and pomegranate represents fertility; “Dragon and Phoenix is a good omen” indicating a happy and holy marriage; and “a magpie standing on a twig” means a good thing will happen.

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