The Origin of Paper Cutting

The Origin of Paper Cutting

Legend has it that Chinese paper-cutting originated from the ancient people's activities of ancestor worship and praying to the gods, and since then, it has been rooted in the profound Chinese traditional culture. With a history of more than 2,000 years, paper-cutting has condensed the traditional concepts of Han culture and intertwined with other arts to pass on the ancient civilization. The art of paper-cutting is an important part of Chinese culture, epitomizing the moral beliefs of a nation and the heritage of a folk culture.

The craft of paper cutting in China has its own unique formation and development process. It is said that the earliest art of paper cutting appeared in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods in the 3rd century BC. At that time, people made use of all kinds of thin materials, through carving, skeletonizing, ticking, carving, cutting and other hollowing carving techniques, such as gold foil, leather, silk, leaves and other materials to cut and carve patterns, and made all kinds of handicrafts, which is the so-called early paper-cutting art.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was no paper, so the so-called paper-cutting handcraft was only to lay the foundation for the emergence of the real paper-cutting craft. The real meaning of the development of the art of paper-cutting handmade art, it is from the emergence of paper only began. The Han Dynasty invented the art of papermaking, and the invention of paper really prompted the emergence of the art of paper cutting, development and popularization.

By the Tang Dynasty, folk began to popularize the custom of paper-cutting soul, which prompted the art of paper-cutting began to enter the big development. From the unearthed artifacts can be seen into, then the level of paper-cutting skills has been quite high, paper-cutting picture composition is complete, delicate and exquisite. In addition, during the Tang Dynasty, people also used paper cuttings to make printing plates, and thick paper was carved to make funnel printing plates, and then the dye was funneled onto the cloth to create beautiful patterns.

During the Song Dynasty, the paper industry became more mature, which provided conditions for the popularization of paper cutting. Song Dynasty people use paper-cutting for ceramic patterns, through glazing, firing to make ceramics more beautiful; folk draw on the form of paper-cutting, made of animal skin shadow play characters; and the Song Dynasty appeared to scrape the pulp printing, its pattern is the use of paper-cutting techniques, there is a yin and yang carving points, the long line should be cut to point divided into real and imaginary.

Ming and Qing dynasties, paper-cutting techniques to maturity, and reached its heyday. At this time the paper-cutting process is more widely used, such as folk lanterns, fan . Decoration, embroidery patterns, etc., are the use of paper-cutting as a decoration and then processed. At that time, the folk more people are paper cutting as a home decoration, used to beautify the home, such as window.

The art of paper-cutting has a long history and has been widely described in the writings of writers and writers throughout the ages, such as Cui Daorong of the Tang Dynasty? Want to cut the word Yichun, spring cold people scissors? The word "Yichun" here refers to paper-cutting. Another example is Li Shangyin's poem? The gold cut out as a victory in the Jing custom, cut color for people to start the Jin wind?

The significance of paper-cutting

On the art of paper-cutting, the origin of paper-cutting, that is, the real meaning of paper-cutting, should start from the appearance of paper. The invention of paper in the Han Dynasty led to the emergence, development and popularization of paper-cutting. 1500 years ago, during the North and South Dynasties, "Mulan Dictionary" in the ? The poem of "Pasting flowers on the mirror" was written in Mulan Dictionary. in the North and South Dynasties. In Xinjiang Turpan Astana region of ancient tombs unearthed in the pattern of flower paper cutting "to the horse", "to the deer" works are very distinctive. Its exquisite composition and skillful techniques, breathtaking, then paper cuts have been used for screens, headdresses, etc., to play the role of holiday decorations.

The art of paper-cutting: Tang Dynasty paper-cutting

Tang Dynasty paper-cutting has been in a period of great development, Du Fu poem? Warm water maundy my feet, cut paper to attract my soul? The custom of paper-cutting to invoke the soul has been spreading to the folk at that time. Now hidden in the British Museum of the Tang Dynasty paper cutting can be seen at the time of paper-cutting handmade art level has been extremely high, the picture composition is complete, expressing a kind of heaven and earth ideal realm. Tang Dynasty popular jie, its openwork woodblock pattern with paper-cutting characteristics, such as the present collection of Japan's Shosoin ? The pattern of sheep is a typical example. The pattern of the sheep is a typical paper-cutting handmade art expression. Tang Dynasty folk also appeared in the form of paper-cutting using the production of leakage printing plate, people with thick paper carved into a flower plate, the dye leakage printing to the cloth, forming a beautiful pattern.

The art of paper-cutting: the Song dynasty paper-cutting

Song dynasty paper industry is mature, a wide range of paper products, for the popularity of paper-cutting provides the conditions. Such as becoming a folk gift? Gift flower? Window flowers? Or used for lamps and lanterns, tea decorations. Song dynasty folk paper-cutting the use of the scope of application gradually expanded, Jiangxi Jizhou kilns will be paper-cutting as a ceramic pattern, through the glaze, firing to make ceramics more exquisite; folk also use the form of paper-cutting, with donkeys, cows, horses, goats and other animals, skin, carved into shadow play characters; blue printed fabric crafting skeletonization plate is made of oiled cardboard carving pattern, scraping the pattern of the printing of the plate is to use the technique of paper-cutting, with a Yin, Yang carved points, the long line to cut, to point points of reality.

The art of paper-cutting: Ming and Qing dynasty paper-cutting

Ming and Qing dynasty paper-cutting handmade art to maturity, and reached its heyday. Folk paper-cutting handmade art is used in a wider range of folk lanterns on the flower decorations, fan decorations, as well as embroidery patterns, etc., are not the use of paper-cutting as a decorative into the reprocessing. More often than not, China's folk paper cutting as decorative home ornaments, beautify the home environment, such as door stacks, window flowers, cabinet flowers, happy flowers, roof flowers are used to decorate the doors and windows, room paper cutting. In addition to the paper-tie pattern craftsmen who appeared after the Southern Song Dynasty, the most basic team of Chinese folk paper-cutting handicraft is still those rural women. Women's red is an important symbol of the perfection of traditional women in China, and paper-cutting, as a compulsory skill of women's red, has become a craft that girls have to learn from childhood. They have to learn the pattern of paper-cutting from their seniors or sisters, and through the pro-cutting, re-cutting, painting and cutting, depicting their own familiar and love of natural scenery, fish, insects, birds and animals, flowers, trees, pavilions, bridges and landscapes, and finally to reach the realm of the heart, the hands of the cut out a new pattern.

The art of paper-cutting: folk paper-cutting

Chinese folk paper-cutting handmade art, like an ivy plant, ancient and evergreen, its unique popularity, practicality, aesthetics has become a symbolic significance in line with the psychological needs of the public.