Fu Hongyan, a Manchu Handicraft Artist, and His Paper Binding Skills

Fu Hongyan (1953—), a native of Ning 'an City, Heilongjiang Province, Manchu, is the inheritor of folk paper sticks in the intangible cultural heritage project of Heilongjiang Province, and also the inheritor of rice paper pyrography in Mudanjiang City.

At the age of thirteen, he began to learn art, and at the age of 2 1, he learned from Liu Deyou, a folk painter and papermaker. Fu Hongyan has studied and mastered the skills of binding, paper cutting, paper pinching, paper tearing and pyrography. Representative works include a series of folk paper-binding works such as Dragon, Paper-cutting, Five Tigers and Generals, Twelve Hairpins in the Red Chamber, and paper-pinching works such as Niugong Tower.

Photo: Fu Hongyan's paper-cutting handicraft "Dragon" is a paper-cutting skill taught by her master, which uses hemp, water glue, paper and other products. In recent years, with the enlargement of the volume of works and the further pursuit of artistic effects, paper-bound works have also begun to use wire skeletons, combined with sound, photoelectric and other technologies, which can make works "light up", "move", "cry" and even "breathe fire".

It is Liu Deyou's regret, which was entrusted to Hongyan by his teacher Liu Deyou before his death. I hope his only apprentice, Fu Hongyan, can realize it. Because it has been lost for a long time, what the teacher told himself is only a general production process, and there are still many things that I don't understand. In addition, when he was young, he didn't have time to try to make a "swearing play". So this matter has been put on hold for more than 30 years. In Fu Hongyan's later years, after many attempts, she finally achieved Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in the series of "swearing and hitting people".

In recent years, with the growth of age, coupled with her identity as an "inheritor" and the attention and protection of the country, Fu Hongyan deeply felt the heavy responsibility on her shoulders. In his own words, he "feels a heavy burden on himself". Over the years, many people have learned the craft of binding and paper-cutting from him, both formal apprentices and informal ones. But whether she is a formal apprentice or not, Fu Hongyan tries her best to teach without charging any tuition fees. He always said, "This kind of gray job is also a business of eating, and it can also support a family."

In recent years, with the growth of age, coupled with her identity as an "inheritor" and the attention and protection of the country, Fu Hongyan deeply felt the heavy responsibility on her shoulders. In his own words, he "feels a heavy burden on himself". Over the years, many people have learned the craft of binding and paper-cutting from him, both formal apprentices and informal ones. But whether she is a formal apprentice or not, Fu Hongyan tries her best to teach without charging any tuition fees. He always said, "This kind of gray job is also a business of eating, and it can also support a family."

In recent years, with the growth of age, coupled with her identity as an "inheritor" and the attention and protection of the country, Fu Hongyan deeply felt the heavy responsibility on her shoulders. In his own words, he "feels a heavy burden on himself". Over the years, many people have learned the craft of binding and paper-cutting from him, both formal apprentices and informal ones. But whether she is a formal apprentice or not, Fu Hongyan tries her best to teach without charging any tuition fees. He always said, "This kind of gray job is also a business of eating, and it can also support a family."

Photo: Fu Hongyan's paper-kneading work "Niugong Tower" Fu Hongyan is Manchu. He can feel the deep Manchu characteristics and national complex in him. Old people are particularly hospitable and simple. The old man has always regarded himself as an old man in Ningguta. He said that his roots are here, and he will always love his nation and the land where he raised himself. No matter where the old people go and what exhibitions they attend, they will introduce their Manchu paper-cuts first. The works with the theme of Manchu customs and beliefs account for a very important part in their paper cutting and tearing, and many of them are full of the original heroic and unrestrained Manchu people.

Fu Hongyan is a Manchu. He can feel the strong Manchu characteristics and national complex. Old people are particularly hospitable and simple. The old man has always regarded himself as an old man in Ningguta. He said that his roots are here, and he will always love his country and the land where he raised himself. No matter where the old people go and what exhibitions they attend, they first introduce their Manchu paper-cuts. The works with the theme of Manchu customs and beliefs account for a very important part in their paper cutting and tearing, and many of them are full of the original heroic and unrestrained Manchu people.

Photo: Fu Hongyan's paper-cutting handicraft "Dragon" is a paper-cutting skill taught by her master, which uses hemp, water glue, paper and other products. In recent years, with the enlargement of the volume of works and the further pursuit of artistic effects, paper-bound works have also begun to use wire skeletons, combined with sound, photoelectric and other technologies, which can make works "light up", "move", "cry" and even "breathe fire".

Fu Hongyan, 60, is the inheritor of a traditional skill. He is conscientious, down-to-earth, devoted to teaching art, shouldering the responsibility, and making continuous efforts for the inheritance and development of traditional skills.

Photo: Fu Hongyan's paper handicraft "Riding Cowherd"

In recent years, with the growth of age, coupled with her identity as an "inheritor" and the attention and protection of the country, Fu Hongyan deeply felt the heavy responsibility on her shoulders. In his own words, he "feels a heavy burden on himself". Over the years, many people have learned the craft of binding and paper-cutting from him, both formal apprentices and informal ones. But whether she is a formal apprentice or not, Fu Hongyan tries her best to teach without charging any tuition fees. He always said, "This kind of gray job is also a business of eating, and it can also support a family."