中国剪纸Chinese paper cutting

Chinese paper cutting

Chinese paper cutting, or Jianzhi, is a kind of folk art which uses scissors or knives to

cut papers for decoration or other folk activities. Having a wide mass base in China, paper

cutting has been involved in the social life for different peoples and has presented multiple

social values in cognition, amusement and communication etc.

In

2006,

Jianzhi

was

enlisted

into

the

first

group

of

National

Intangible

Cultural

Heritage

by

the

State

Council,

and

it

was

listed

in

the

UNESCO

Intangible

Cultural

Heritage Lists in 2009.

Origin

：

The art of paper-cutting in China may date back to the second century C.E., since

paper was invented by Cai in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. As paper became more

affordable,

paper-cutting

became

one

of

the

most

important

types

of

Chinese

folk

art.

Later, this art form spread to other parts of the world, with different regions adopting their

own cultural styles. Because the cut-outs are often used to decorate doors and windows,

they

are

sometimes

referred

to

as

paper-cut

for

window,

window

flowers

or

window

paper-cuts. People glued the papercuts to the exterior of windows, so the light from the

inside

would

shine

through

the

negative

space

of

the

cutout.

Usually,

the

artworks

are

made of red paper, as red is associated with festivities and happiness in Chinese culture,

but others colored were also used. Normally paper-cutting artwork is used on festivals like

Spring

Festival,

weddings

and

childbirth.

Papercuts

always

symbolize

luck

and

happiness.

Chinese paper-cutting originated from ancient activities of worshipping ancestors and

gods, and is a traditional part of Chinese culture. According to archaeological records, it

originates from the 6th century, although some believe that its history could be traced as

far back as the Warring States period (around 3 BC),long before the paper was invented.

At that time, people used other thin materials, like leaves, silver foil, silk and even leather,

to

carve

hollowed

patterns.

Later,

when

paper

was

invented,

people

realized

that

this

material was easy to cut, store and discard, and paper became the major material for this

type of artwork. During the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368

–

1912), this artistry witnessed

its most prosperous period. For over a thousand years, people (mainly women) have been

making paper-cuts as part a leisure activity. They created different type of paper-cutting

and

shared

and

passed

this

traditional

craftsmanship

to

their

children,

so

that

this

traditional art style became more and more popular and is still practiced to this day.

In

ancient

times,

human

beings

have

discovered

and

used

images

as

an

artistic

method of image representation, and then created the artistic language of engraving and

air

through

various

materials.

This

is

in

many

primitive

society

color

pottery

and

rock

painting, Shang Zhou bronzes, Han dynasty picture stone art, reflected ancient artificer to

use this artistic technique consummation. Today's folk paper-cuts are strikingly consistent

with the style and exterior features of the paper, which fully explain the inheritance and

continuity of their relationship.

The Chinese imperial concubine holding the baby, playing with the window, skillfully

cutting the Paulownia Leaves according to the window screen. Use thin slice material to

cut

carve

flower,

before

have

paper

already

be

like

Han

dynasty

gold

and

silver

foil

engraved flower. But the exact cut, of course, is after paper. Our country is the country

that

invented

paper,

already

began

to

make

paper

in

the

western

Han

dynasty.

At

this

point, the use of paper for cutting out the hollow out performance in accordance with the

paper-cut art required by the folk custom has been generated among the people. However,

the

earliest

papercut

was

found

in

the

north Korean

period

(386

A.D.

581),

which

was

unearthed near the flaming mountain of Turpan in Xinjiang. These papercuts, the way of

repeated folding and the non-occlusion of the image, are very similar to today's folk paper

cutting paper.

When paper-cutting passed down to the Tang dynasty, the skills of handcraft became

mature. Paper-cutting was not only a kind of handcraft, but also a piece of artwork, as it

could

express

the

idea

through

the

pattern.

In

Ming

and

Qing

dynasty,

paper-cutting

experienced its peak development. Folk paper-cutting spread to a wider range and had

abundant

means

of

artistic

expression.

Paper-cutting

was

used

to

decorate

doors,

windows and walls to show happiness and festival.

Classification

：

Paper-cutting is one of the oldest and the most popular folk arts in China. It can be

geographically

divided

into

a

southern

and

a

northern

style.

The

southern

style,

represented

by

works

from

Yangzhou

in

Jiangsu

Province

and

Le

Qing

in

Zhejiang

Province,

features

ingenious

and

beautiful

designs,

exquisite

carving

and

interesting

shapes. The northern style, mainly from Yu Xianand FengNing in Hebei Province and best

represented by works from northern Shaanxi, features exaggerated shapes, vigorousness,

vivid depictions and diverse patterns.

The style of window paper-cuts is usually free, except the flower pattern on the corner.

The theme of window paper-cuts has a wide range, the most popular of which is based on

the

stories

of

traditional

Chinese

opera.

As

most

buyers

are

farmers,

the

content

of

window paper-cut usually describe farming, spinning, fishing and poultry farming.

1.

To

pattern

classification:

paper

cutting

patterns

for

people,

animals,

characters,

with 62, flowers, fruits and vegetables, insects, landscapes and so on, and proposed the

addition of the world's rare, modern class two, a total of 11 categories.

2. Category: China paper-cut meaning characteristics, the performance of the theme

implies, so the basis of meaning, which can be divided into: blessing, cowardly evil, evil,

exhortation, warning, interest and other seven categories.

3.

To

use

classification:

some

people

think

that

the

classification

of

paper

cutting

should be based on the use, which can be divided into:

(1)decorative

affixed

to

its

substrate

for

appreciation

or

increase

its

beauty

of

the

paper-cut, such as window;

(2) custom categories: for worship, prayer, a disaster, cowardly evil, poison paper- cut,

such as door;

(3)

draft

type:

used

for

stencil

printing,

printing

and

dyeing

paper

cutting,

such

as

embroidery manuscript;

(4)

design

class:

can

increase

the

beauty

of

things,

or

can

promote

its

paper-cut,

such as film or television titles

4.

Other

classification

methods:

others

think

that

should

be

divided

into

three

categories:

(1)

all

paper

scissors

to

do

with

the

color

window

color

draft

(like

flowers),

known as paper cutting.

(2) any work that is cut and pasted with color paper should be called

(3) those who cut and then fill the works of art should be called shear.

5.

To

paper

and

production

classification:

there

are

paper

and

production

classification, more for teaching purposes. It will be divided into two types of paper cutting,

eight kinds:

First class: monochrome paper-cut. Is to use a colored paper to cut and subdivided

into do:

(1) jackknife, soon after the paper folded cut, after the opening of a pattern or fonts

available.

(2) Diego scissors, the number of overlapping sheets of paper together to nail down

and then cut the script, number of his prints.

Second categories: complex color paper-cut, also known as colored paper-cut. color

paper is based on the number of sub cut after cut collage mapping; or with white paper cut

into a script, and then dyed fill a variety of colors; or the first cut on the main board, lined

withwhite and then dyed to fill a variety of colors can be subdivided:

(1) lining color class, first made of monochrome paper-cut method of cutting diagram,

and then to color paper as a lining.

(2) color, monochrome paper-cut way to cut the main version and the second version

of the image, and then another cut paper tape mounted in the main version of the site

needs; or colors required to color the drawings of colored paper, overlap with the nail, and

then along the way the draft line cut, and chose to take a main version. Paste mounted on

the substrate, and then the rest of the Tim posted on the main board.

(3) color, which are colored paper cut into all parts of the image, and then posted in

accordance with drawings mounted on backing paper; or see the different colors of paper

overlapping clinch, and then cut into a script, kiss the fight on backing paper.

(4)

dyeing,

that

is,

the

white

paper

or

lighten

colored

paper

which

is

easy

to

be

impregnated is cut into various images, and then dyed the required color gradually; or the

paper is dyed first, and then cut into an image

(5) coloring categories, namely black paper or dark paper cut out the main version,

mounted on a white paper, then the script a variety of colors; or cut with the white theme

image, laminating and then fill in the required color dyeing; the first fill and then cut to do

so.

(6) magnetic paper-cut, magnetic paper-cut in the process of manual production and

machine production points, manual paper-cut and scissors and engraved points

As for the two methods of paper cutting, the main method should be chosen.

Symmetry

：

There are basic cut-outs, consisting of a single image, and symmetrical designs, that

are usually created by some folding over a proportioned crease, and then cutting a shape,

so that when unfolded, it forms a symmetrical design. Chinese paper cuttings are usually

symmetrical. The paper cut outs are usually in

an

even

number series of 2, 4, 24 etc.

Uses

：

Today,

paper

cuttings

are

chiefly

decorative.

They

liven

up

walls,

windows,

doors,

columns,

mirrors,

lamps

and

lanterns

in

homes

and

are

also

used

on

presents

or

are

given as gifts themselves. Paper cut- outs pasted on or near entrances are supposed to

bring good luck. Papercuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery and

lacquer work. Papercuts are used by younger generation as a decoration for their kits and

books.

Paper-cutting was and is mostly used as a decoration, or an aesthetic way to express

people’s hopes, gratitude and other emotions. With a pair of scissors cutting through a

piece of red paper, the paper- cuttings are endowed with a simple but exaggerated beauty.

The vividly depicted paper- cuttings have different meanings. Some express the wish for a

harvest or a

wealthy life, such

as paper- cuttings of a

golden

harvest, thriving

domestic

animals, good fortunes, a surplus year or a carp jumping over a dragon gate (a traditional

Chinese story, indicating a leap towards a better life); some depict animals and plants,

such

as

paper-cuttings of polecats, lions, jade

rabbits (animal from a

Chinese

legend),

pomegranates and peonies; some illustrate legendary figures or scenes from traditional

myths or stories, such as paper-cuttings of the Yellow Emperor, The cowherd and weaving

girl

and 24 stories of filial piety; and others show people’s gratitude towards life, such as

paper- cuttings

of

a

doll

with

two

twisted

hair

on

each

side

of

the

head,

fish

swimming

through

lotus

and

dishes.

(a

strong

passion

for

life

can

be

easily

seen

from

the

paper- cuttings of the women)

The most famous paper-

cutting characters in Chinese are ―

福

‖ (fú, meaning 'lucky')

and ―

囍

‖ (xǐ, meaning 'd

ouble happiness'). Even to this day, Chinese people love to hang

paper-

cutting

of

these

two

characters

at

their

doors.

―

福

‖

is

usually

used

during

the

Chinese New Year’s Festival, indicating people’s wishes for a lucky year. ―

囍

‖ can often be

seen at the windows or door of newly- weds.

Process

：

There are two methods of manufacture: one uses scissors, the other uses knives. In

the scissor method, several pieces of paper

—

up to eight

—

are fastened together. The

motif

is

then

cut

with

sharp,

pointed

scissors.

The

first

step

is

to

fold.

Fold

a

piece

of

squared paper along the diagonal into a triangle, and fold into another triangle. Now we

can start to cut. Window blossoms can be designed with irregular patterns. First cut an

arch which will be the outline of the petals. After that use a pair of scissors to cut different

kinds of curved lines and saw tooth. A half heart shape can also be cut. The last step is to

opened with light touch

to avoid

tear the fine connections. Lightly flat it, you

will find

a

beautiful symmetrical pattern from a random cut.

Knife

cuttings

are

fashioned

by

putting

several

layers

of

paper

on

a

relatively

soft

foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts

the motif into the paper with a sharp knife which is usually held vertically. Skilled crafters

can even cut out different drawings freely without paper was carved using a

carving knife instead of using scissors. In the windows, the bright colors combined with

light to form lovely patterns and shadows. At first, a carving mold should be designed, and

then the lines of the pattern will be drawn. After that, the mold is put on a stack of paper

and different kinds of knives are used to carve along the lines. The last step is to color the

paper. Dyes are mixed with liquor and are brushed onto white paper. This procedure is

called ―smoking sample‖. The wetted carved mold is put on white paper and smoked with

a

candle.

Before

the

copying

machine

was

invented,

the

paper

cut

artists

copied

their

carving mold using this technique.

中国剪纸艺术

中国剪纸是一种用剪刀 或刻刀在纸上剪刻花纹，

用于装点生活或配合其他民俗活动的民

间艺术。在中国，剪纸具有广泛的群众基础，

交融于各族人民的社会生活，

是各种民俗活动

的重要组成部分。

其传承赓续的视觉 形象和造型格式，

蕴涵了丰富的文化历史信息，

表达了

广大民众的社会认以、

道德观念、

实践经验、< /p>

生活理想和审美情趣，

具有认知、

教化、

表意、