| Paper Cutting |
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One of China's most popular folkarts is papercutting. Archaeological
finds trace the tradition back to the 6th century; it is supposed
that the beginnings of papercutting were even a few centuries earlier.
Papercuttings are used for religious purposes, for decoration and
as patterns.
As is still partly the case outside of China, various paper objects
and figures used to be buried with the dead or were burned at
the funeral ceremony. Papercuttings, which were usually of symbolic
character, were part of this ritual. They also often served as
decorations for sacrificial offerings to the ancestors and gods.
Today, papercuttings are chiefly used as decoration. They ornament
walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in
homes and are also used for decoration on presents or are given
as presents themselves.
They have special significance at festivals and on holidays.
At the New Year's Festival for example, entrances are decorated
with papercuttings which are supposed to bring good luck.
Papercuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery
and lacquer work.
Papercuttings are not produced by machine, but by hand. There
are two methods of manufacture: scissor cuttings and knife cuttings.
As the name indicates, scissor cuttings are fashioned with scissors.
Several pieces of paper--up to eight pieces--are fastened together.
The motif is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors.
Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper
on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow
and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into
the paper with a sharp knife which he usually holds vertically.
The advantage of knife cuttings is that considerably more papercuttings
can be made in one operation than with scissor cuttings.
In the countryside, papercuttings are usually made only by women
and girls. This used to be one of the crafts that every girl was
to master and that were often used to judge brides. Professional
papercutting artists are, on the other hand, almost always men
who have guaranteed incomes and work together in workshops.
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