The Origin of Traditional Chinese Paper Cutting Lanterns

Paper-cutting and all Chinese folk handicrafts are the same, all have a long history and cultural accumulation. On the basis of a full understanding of the history of Chinese paper-cutting, the correct understanding of the origin of Chinese paper-cutting, for us to learn paper-cutting and paper-cutting art will be more favorable. In Chinese folk culture, paper-cutting has always played an important role. Earlier forms of paper-cutting art are very familiar with today's paper-cut window flowers, this handmade paper-cutting culture is still intact, which can be seen in our country's paper-cutting culture is very deep. Understanding the origins of folk paper-cutting, it is possible to correctly realize the importance of protecting the culture of paper-cutting and promoting the culture of paper-cutting.

Lanterns are closely related to Chinese life, and there are lanterns everywhere in temples and living rooms. Carefully projected, China has lamps after the Qin and Han Dynasties, and paper lanterns were probably invented after the invention of paper in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Chinese lanterns are not only used for illumination, but also as a symbol. Wu Dunhou said he used to make bridal lanterns (i.e., palace lanterns) to represent wedding festivities; gabion lanterns to signify funerary occasions; and umbrella lanterns (伞灯), which are phonetically the same as the "ding" lanterns and mean a thriving family. Therefore, in the past, every family had a lantern hanging under the eaves of the house and in the living room. This is a continuation of the custom of having two large lanterns in front of the deity's head at today's God Race. However, I'm afraid that the lanterns are the most revered and anticipated of the Lantern Festival.

The custom of viewing lanterns at the Lantern Festival originated at the beginning of the Han Dynasty, and during the reign of Tang Dynasty, in order to celebrate the prosperity of the country and the safety of the people, lanterns were tied up to symbolize the "colorful dragons and auspiciousness, and the people and the country were strong and prosperous

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The Lantern Festival was widely popular since then. When Zhu Yuanzhang, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, established Nanjing, he set up 10,000 lanterns on the Qinhuai River, and during the Yongle Dynasty, he erected a large lantern post at the Wumen Gate, and set up a lantern market outside the Huamen Gate, so that there is still a street called "Lantern Market" in Beiping.

After the Republic of China (Taiwan), lanterns still existed, but they were much more subdued. Luckily, due to China Fever, lanterns are now playing an important role in home decoration, but the materials used for lanterns have changed from paper and bamboo to cloth, plastic and wire, and the shapes and colors of the lanterns are very different from those of the traditional ones.

Traditionally, yellow is the color of the temple, and the size and color of the lanterns vary according to one's personal preference, regardless of their symbolic meaning.

Besides illumination, lanterns have other meanings. Every year in the first month of the lunar calendar, when private schools started, parents would prepare a lantern for their children, which would be lit by the teacher to symbolize a bright future for the students, which was called the "opening of the lantern". This has since evolved into the custom of carrying lanterns during the Lantern Festival. Because of the similarity in sound between the word and the word "tintin," lanterns were also used to pray for the birth of a child. During the Japanese colonial era, patriots painted folk stories on the lanterns to teach their children and grandchildren about their own culture, so the meaning of passing on the flame was also passed on to the next generation.