Paper-cut : Amazing Art In The World

Have you ever seen  traditional Chinese arts? One of the most popular types of folk art is called Chinese paper cutting ,which is a  distinctive visual art. I bet the following pictures , which are listed, will be very  eye-opening for you guys! Here is a picture to show the famous 12 Chinese Zodiac animals. In Chinese astrology, each individual personality is associated with an animal sign that represents it. When you examine the methods of how these works of art are created, you will definitely be amazed. The true to life expressions of the figure's sentiment and appearance, are a portrayal of natural plants and animals' diverse gestures.




Photo by Lin

History of paper-cut 

Archaeological finds trace the tradition back to Eastern Han Dynasty ,when paper-cut started and gained its popularity in the Qing Dynasty. There is no doubt that art comes from life and exists to serve life. Paper-cuts often depict animals, human activities, Chinese characters and flowers. Chinese people were in favor of red paper since red expressed a sense of prosperity. In the beginning, rural women didn’t know how to read and write, so they found this was a way to express their feelings. Because paper-cut is cheap and also conveys a sense of luckiness and happiness, they like to decorate entrances with their own paper-cut during the Spring Festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Later on, paper-cut was developed into an entertainment tool. What’s more, in order to celebrate a wedding, rural women also enjoyed putting their work on the new couples’ windows. In the picture below, you can see an example of a typical  wedding paper-cut. A couple means a pair or double, which contain the meaning of a harmonious union lasting a hundred years. Therefore, the birds and single characters are exactly symmetrical. That indicates best wishes to the new couple.

Photo by Lin

Paper-cut was also used for memorial ceremonies for ancestors and the gods. It was a way to express how they miss and respect their ancestors. However, with transportation developing, paper-cut began getting promoted in big cities which led to different variations beyond the traditional methods. Now, paper-cut is used for delivering Chinese culture, which attracts a lot of foreigners come to China. As a result, paper-cut industry is prosperous and is used for commercial purposes.Now there are getting more options available in paper-cut industry. For example, there are various colors available for paper-cut. According to Artistic Chinese Creations, "Colorful paper cut by scissors is often used as decoration and forms various artistic styles because of different purposes, such as for window decoration, basket decoration, present decoration and designs. Among them paper-cut for window decoration is the most popular. Sopaper-cut is also called Window Grille. Basket decoration is hanging decorationfor festivals. Present decoration is to add color for the present andexaggerate living atmosphere and encourage the people's emotions."

Photo by Artistic Chinese Creation

Here is a video I found on YouTube about how to make paper cut by your own: