Introduction
A distinctive visual art representative of China, 剪紙 (jiǎn zhǐ) or Chinese paper cutting, has been around for centuries, (it might even be older than paper itself!). In 2009, Chinese Paper-cut was put on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. With simply a piece of paper—usually red—and a pair of scissors in hand, diverse patterns ranging from portraits to animal zodiacs are created with intricate designs.
The Origin
The oldest surviving paper cut out is a symmetrical circle from the 6th century found in Xinjiang, China. The art of Chinese paper cutting has been believed to have originated in China after the invention of paper by Ts'ai Lun in 105 CE. However, long before paper was invented, there have been records of the Chinese using other thin materials such as leaves, silver or gold foil, silk, and leather to carve hollowed patterns. It was found that during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 771 BC), people had already been cutting tree leaves into various art forms and giving them out as presents! Surprising, right?
Regarding the origin of the very first paper-cut, there is also a beautiful legend:
In the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 CE) of ancient China, Emperor Wu loved his wife, Concubine Li, dearly. When she passed away, he missed her so much that he couldn’t eat or sleep well. He longed to see her once again. In order to fulfill the Emperor’s request, one of the ministers used linen to cut out the figure of Concubine Li and propped it up against the dim candlelight in the tent. From a separate tent, Emperor Wu saw the silhouette of his beloved wife and thought that her spirit had returned. So as to not reveal the lie, the ministers warned the Emperor that he must not go near the tent or Concubine Li’s spirit would disappear. As the silhouette faded away, he wrote a poem to express his grief.
The Development
As paper became affordable, the art rose in popularity among the people and became a traditional handicraft for women in rural areas. It was expected of every girl to master the craft, and brides were often judged by their skills. During the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 – 1279 CE), craftsmen, predominantly male, made a living out of paper cutting. Some specialised in cutting Chinese characters, while others specialised in cutting flowers and other designs. In the Jizhou kilns of the Jiangxi Province, craftsmen started pasting paper-cut works on ceramics before glazing and baking them in the kiln, to create vivid designs on the ceramics.
The Meaning
In the past, paper-cut designs were largely influenced by agriculture. The Chinese have long created paper-cuts to depict beautiful things, worship, and express good wishes. Most of the traditional cuttings have a meaning behind them. A lotus with fish stands for the continuation of wealth in the next year and a pomegranate indicates a wish for prosperity and fertility.
Ready to Play?
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