Paper Cutting
| Provider | CTS (港中旅国际旅行社) |
Price : $ 30 UP
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| Code | SEP043 |
| Duration | 1 days |
| Departing city | Xi'an |
| Destinations | Xi'an, |
| Attractions | |
| Departing date | |
| Rate |
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Feature
Paper cutting is a folk culture with so long a history. When Chinese lunar New Year is coming, it is a custom for northern people to paste the paper cutting on window. Gradually, it develops into an art form, one of the most popular traditional decoration art. It is recorded that there were decorations made by gold and silver foils, leather and silk products in 1600BC (Shang dynasty), enchased in various patterns. We can say that paper cutting derived from these art forms.
In the early time, people made images of human and subjects by hemp-paper to bury together with body in the tomb or to burn on the funerals. With the special symbolization meaning, paper cutting was used as decorations on sacrificing ceremonies.
In 105AD, Cailun improved the paper making technique and large amount of paper was produced, which laid a foundation for the spread of paper cutting. Beautiful patterns were created and gradually, the patterns were widely used in other fields later, such as on bronze mirror tails and on lacquers.
There had been more records of paper cutting since 960 AD (Song dynasty). Professional paper cutting artists appeared, specializing on different patterns. Some were good at cutting flowers while some others were authorities at characters’ cutting. Thus the patterns were abundant and colorful: phoenix, clubs, characters with the meaning of luck and happiness etc. Some were made exclusive for presents’ decorations and some were cut for posting on. One of the most important contributions of paper cutting in Song dynasty was that patterns were used on the Chinas and dyeing cloth.
When time came to Ming dynasty (since 1368AD), paper cutting with patterns of bamboo, flowers and birds was inserted between two pieces of voiles and colored with battik to make lantern covers. Patterns appeared through the candle light. This was another daily application of paper cuttings.
Paper cutting was brought into royal palace Qing dynasty (from 1422) since the Manchu (the ruler minority) had the tradition to make paper cutting. Works were more delicate and diversified.
In some villages, paper cutting are usually made by the females. The handicraft used to be taken as a standard of a eligible bride. Nowadays, probably because of the easy available material the decoration effect, paper cutting is deeply loved by the public. People still keep the tradition to post paper cutting on windows and doors during festivals. And it has already developed into a unique art form. You can also see paper cutting in brand advertisement, fashion design, stamp design, animation and movie fields etc.
In a village near The Terra-cotta museum, Xiahe, experienced artists show how to do paper cutting.
Time Range
any time
Price for Reference
RMB203/per/person.(with private teacher, minimum for 2 persons)
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