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The Paper Cut

The emergence and spread of paper cutting is intricately linken with the customs of
Chinese festivals. During Spring Festival or other celebrations, people like to stick
beautiful and bright-colored paper cuts on white window paper or crystal glass
windows, or on the walls, doors and lanterns to enhance the liveliness and exuberance
of the festivals.

It is said that paper cutting has existed ever since the invention of paper. The art of
paper cutting witnessed considerable progress during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
This is attested to by the Tang Dynasty paper cuts stored in the British Museum.
Facilitated by the superb craftsmanship at that time, the paper cut was shaped as an
integral design depicting an ideal status of a world in paradise. Craftsmen choosing
paper cutting as their profession appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).
The Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911)recorded a period of great prosperity for
paper cutting during which paper cuts became important domestic decorations.

The style of paper cuts varies according to different local customs. Motifs of the paper
cuts made in the northern China seek out primitive simplicity, while their southern
counterparts embrace luxuriance and magnificence; the shaping of those of the north
is bold and unconstrained while the southern ones are fine and delicate; lines of the
northern paper cuts are bold and forceful while those of the south are fine and smooth;
as for style, the northern ones are powerful and vigorous, while the southern ones appear
beautiful and graceful. Northern style paper cut is represented by those produced in
Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong while the southern style is represented by those produced
in Hubei, Guangdong and Fujian.

Yuxian County of Hebei Province, being referred to as the homeland of Chinese paper
cutting is representative of northern style paper cuts specializing in window paper cuts.
Distinct from most Chinese paper cutting which use red or single-colored paper, the
paper cuts of Yuxian comes in multiple colors. In fact, this kind of paper cutting is not cut
but engraved by using extremely thin xuan paper as material. They are first engraved with
a delicate, sharp chisel and then colored with brushes dipping in the paint. Being richly
and brightly painted with lively colors, the paper cuts in Yuxian County possess a strong
flavor of rural life.

Most of the themes of folk paper cuts come from real life. Creators of paper cuts choose
to show their enthusiasm towards life and understanding of nature by means of paper cutting.
For instance, the “character of double happiness” is an indispensable sign at Chinese
weddings; “magpies topping the tree branches” signifies the arrival of happiness; “plentiful
harvest of the five grains” symbolizes good harvests of agriculture. Apart from being stuck on
windows and lintels to enhance festival atmosphere, designs of paper cutting is increasingly
incorporated into the designs of wedding gowns, fashion and household items, displaying
its practicality and artistic charm.

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