Introduction to Chinese paper cutting

When I first visited China as a tourist I was attracted by the bright red color of the paper cuts sold at the souvenir stalls around Yu Garden. At first I thought it was something to put in a frame and hang on a wall, so I was very surprised to see doors and windows of Chinese houses adorned with them.

Souvenir shop at Yu Garden

The paper cut I bought

I started wondering about the paper cutting`s meaning and origin, and that`s when I came across a charming book titled “Zhao Quan – The Paper-Cut of Yuxian County”, the first volume of the collection “Craftsman”, which features, as the name suggests, famous craftsmen representative of different Chinese folk arts. Composed of five chapters, the book introduces the life of the paper cutting master Zhao Quan, the tools he uses, the process of paper cutting and his works. The book is published only in Chinese unfortunately, but it`s full of inviting pictures that made it accessible even to me with my limited knowledge of Chinese.

The pictures below are some shots of the book.

Before reading this book I thought that the paper cuts come only in red, and feature only auspicious symbols, but actually they can be very colorful and cover nearly all topics, from flowers, birds, animals, legendary people, to figures in classic novels. Paper cut can be found throughout China in various ethnic groups, therefore motifs vary greatly and depend on the region of origin, but generally they are classified in two main genres, the northern style and the southern style, each influenced by their geography and local culture.

As one of the most classic folk arts in China and integral element of everyday life, paper cut was put in 2009 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It`s difficult to tell the exact period when the art of paper-cutting originated in China. Excavations at the ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang in Turpan, Xinjiang, unearthed paper cuts showing a pair of horses and a pair of monkeys dating back 1500 years to the period of the Northern and Southern dynasties. They are among the earliest examples of cut paper to have been found. 

Actually, the cultural implication and art forms of paper cut can be traced back before the invention of the paper to pre-historical societies, when people used different materials such as gold, leather, silk and even leaves, to carve and engrave patterns.

But as the logic shows, paper cutting needs paper so, strictly speaking, paper cutting origins should be placed after AD 105, the year in which the Chinese invented papermaking (even though recent archaeological investigations place the actual invention of papermaking some 200 years earlier). The early paper cutting was probably associated with religious rites, and only gradually it developed into a form of art. 

As a cultural carrier of the original Chinese philosophy, paper cut is embodied in all aspects of folk custom and culture, and the uses to which it was put were many. The first use was mainly decorative; paper cut were pasted on windows (hence the name Window Flowers), ceilings, doors and lanterns. Another use of paper cuts was related to other folk crafts, as it was used as guide for woodcarvers and embroiderers, and as stencils for transferring color to lacquer ware. The paper cut can be also found during festivities (weddings, birthdays and other ceremonies), or in form of prayers (invoking the rain, warding off the devil, etc.).

Nowadays Chinese paper cuts are still used as decoration, especially during the Spring Festival and wedding days.

There is a paper cut design for each occasion: during the Chinese New Year, the character “Fu” (福, good fortune) is pasted on the door, at a weddings the character “Xi” (囍, double happiness) is a must on the newlywed’s door, and on seniors` birthday paper cuttings with the character “Shou” (寿, longevity) are often seen.

“Fu” (福)

“Xi” (囍)

“Shou” (寿)

Paper cutting is pure handwork, but due to the modern industrial production the traditional sense of paper cutting is facing grave challenges and its values, handed down from generation to generation, are changing. Nowadays unfortunately it became more and more difficult to find authentic handmade paper cutting. 

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to paper cuts! In a different post I will talk about the paper cutting technique and style typical of Yuxian County.