Chenzhou Paper Cutting
2023-11-15
Paper cutting is a kind of folk art that uses scissors or carving knives to cut and carve patterns on papers to decorate life or welcome other folk activities. It’s rich in content, and showcases local cultural characteristics in different regions.
Chenzhou Paper Cutting is a special manifestation of aesthetic consciousness, patterns, decorations and production methods unique to the people of all ethnic groups in the upper and middle reaches of the Yuanshui River.
It was listed in the fifth batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2021.
Chenzhou Paper Cutting originated in Yuanling county. The paper cutting handicraft became mature and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties, but its source can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty.
At that time, the trend of witchcraft and exorcism was prevalent in Chenzhou. Witches painted various spells on silk, leather, or wooden boards, and created decorative patterns for expelling evil spirits, preventing disease, and praying through cutting and carving.
After papers were invented, people of all ethnic groups in Chenzhou used scissors to cut various patterns on thin sheets of paper.
With hollowed out planes, they visually give people a sense of transparency and artistic enjoyment. Common flowers, birds, fish and insects in life are combined with landscapes, customs, characters and auspicious words, forming far-reaching auspicious patterns and expressing their longing for a better life.
With the development of paper cutting, it is widely used in people’s daily life, especially in wedding celebrations. It is used as decorations on doors, windows and cabinets, or as the reference pattern for printing, embroidery, dyeing, carving, silversmith, etc., and integrated into other folk arts.
Today, with the continuous innovation of countless inheritors, Inheritors of Chenzhou Paper Cutting have created many colorful patterns, and integrated the “blue calico” element in the Miao batik process.
With the development of paper cutting, it is widely used in people’s daily life, especially in wedding celebrations. It is used as decorations on doors, windows and cabinets, or as the reference pattern for printing, embroidery, dyeing, carving, silversmith, etc., and integrated into other folk arts.
Today, with the continuous innovation of countless inheritors, Inheritors of Chenzhou Paper Cutting have created many colorful patterns, and integrated the “blue calico” element in the Miao batik process.
Blue paper cutting works depict the hospitable Miao people, and show the exquisite Miao art with distinctive regional characteristics, making greater contributions to the world’s paper cutting art.
