Chinese paper cutting is an old art that developed shortly after paper was invented 2,000 years ago. Though ancient, paper cutting is now widely practiced in the regions all across China. When shopping in Beijing, be sure to check out this unique Chinese art.
Chinese paper cutouts often show pictures of landscapes, houses, people, animals, and flowers. The designs are usually symmetrical and created by cutting a piece or several pieces of folded paper. Chinese living in the countryside especially like to use paper cutouts to decorate their homes. Because they are most often put on windows, the cutouts earned the nickname "window flowers." As a common practice, cutouts designed with auspicious Chinese characters are used for festivals and other events like weddings. As a tradition, most cutouts are made by women.
Evidence shows that paper art started to gain momentum during the Tang dynasty. Paper cutouts created in this period demonstrate a high level of workmanship. The Chinese paper industry began to thrive in the Song dynasty, and it was during this time that paper cutting became a popular leisure activity for many Chinese, as more varieties of paper products were made available. The popularity was not limited to the household: even porcelain masters adopted many patterns from paper cutouts for use on their work. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, this art reached another level.
In China, there are three major styles of paper cutting developed by artisans in different regions of the country. They are the southern style, the Jiangzhe style, and the northern style.
The Southern Style: This style includes work produced in Foshan, Wuhan, and Fujian.
Foshan - Foshan is a city in Guangdong province. Like other Guangdong art, Foshan's paper cutouts are famous for their lavish designs and strong colors. Both Chinese and overseas customers like the work produced here.
Wuhan - Wuhan's paper cutting is influenced by the local "Chu" culture. Paper cutouts produced here are famous for their vivid pictures and deep cultural meanings. Some of the best paper cutout artists of China are from this area.
Fujian - Paper cutouts produced in Fujian province are known for their animal designs. The interesting design of a famous work called "Chicken-Feet Flower" is cherished by many.
The Jiangzhe Style: This style includes paper cutouts made in China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
Jiangsu - Jiangsu artists make paper cutouts with beautiful flower designs. The flowers depicted are delicate, lifelike, and give a sense of romance.
Zhejiang - Cutouts produced in this province are famous for their elegant, exquisite craftsmanship. Here, themes mainly focus on things in nature and characters from "Yue" plays. They are used to decorate both windows and lanterns.
The Northern Style: The three most famous northern Chinese styles are the Shanxi style, Shaanxi style, and Shandong style.
Shanxi - Village people in Shanxi province live in traditional cave-houses with minimal decorations. The paper cutouts they make generally reflect this reality - most of them have a very simple design. They also have a rough feel, similar to the character of the local people.
Shaanxi - Shaanxi province is located in an isolated area in China. This disadvantage in geography has been proven to be a unique advantage in art: the artisans here are able to make paper cutouts that show some of the oldest patterns from ancient Chinese culture, undisrupted by outside influence. Their work is called "living fossils."
Shandong - Paper cutouts from Shandong are famous for their exquisite craftsmanship and unique appearance. Village women in this province like to use small pieces of various cutouts to decorate windows, so the complete work will have a unique look.
When you are in Beijing, go shopping for some beautiful paper cutouts in the city's amazing local shops. It's best to find a personal shopper to assist you in shopping, because this person knows the locations of the best shops and can give you information on the products you buy.
Chinese paper cutouts often show pictures of landscapes, houses, people, animals, and flowers. The designs are usually symmetrical and created by cutting a piece or several pieces of folded paper. Chinese living in the countryside especially like to use paper cutouts to decorate their homes. Because they are most often put on windows, the cutouts earned the nickname "window flowers." As a common practice, cutouts designed with auspicious Chinese characters are used for festivals and other events like weddings. As a tradition, most cutouts are made by women.
Evidence shows that paper art started to gain momentum during the Tang dynasty. Paper cutouts created in this period demonstrate a high level of workmanship. The Chinese paper industry began to thrive in the Song dynasty, and it was during this time that paper cutting became a popular leisure activity for many Chinese, as more varieties of paper products were made available. The popularity was not limited to the household: even porcelain masters adopted many patterns from paper cutouts for use on their work. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, this art reached another level.
In China, there are three major styles of paper cutting developed by artisans in different regions of the country. They are the southern style, the Jiangzhe style, and the northern style.
The Southern Style: This style includes work produced in Foshan, Wuhan, and Fujian.
Foshan - Foshan is a city in Guangdong province. Like other Guangdong art, Foshan's paper cutouts are famous for their lavish designs and strong colors. Both Chinese and overseas customers like the work produced here.
Wuhan - Wuhan's paper cutting is influenced by the local "Chu" culture. Paper cutouts produced here are famous for their vivid pictures and deep cultural meanings. Some of the best paper cutout artists of China are from this area.
Fujian - Paper cutouts produced in Fujian province are known for their animal designs. The interesting design of a famous work called "Chicken-Feet Flower" is cherished by many.
The Jiangzhe Style: This style includes paper cutouts made in China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
Jiangsu - Jiangsu artists make paper cutouts with beautiful flower designs. The flowers depicted are delicate, lifelike, and give a sense of romance.
Zhejiang - Cutouts produced in this province are famous for their elegant, exquisite craftsmanship. Here, themes mainly focus on things in nature and characters from "Yue" plays. They are used to decorate both windows and lanterns.
The Northern Style: The three most famous northern Chinese styles are the Shanxi style, Shaanxi style, and Shandong style.
Shanxi - Village people in Shanxi province live in traditional cave-houses with minimal decorations. The paper cutouts they make generally reflect this reality - most of them have a very simple design. They also have a rough feel, similar to the character of the local people.
Shaanxi - Shaanxi province is located in an isolated area in China. This disadvantage in geography has been proven to be a unique advantage in art: the artisans here are able to make paper cutouts that show some of the oldest patterns from ancient Chinese culture, undisrupted by outside influence. Their work is called "living fossils."
Shandong - Paper cutouts from Shandong are famous for their exquisite craftsmanship and unique appearance. Village women in this province like to use small pieces of various cutouts to decorate windows, so the complete work will have a unique look.
When you are in Beijing, go shopping for some beautiful paper cutouts in the city's amazing local shops. It's best to find a personal shopper to assist you in shopping, because this person knows the locations of the best shops and can give you information on the products you buy.
About the Author:
A. Lao has written about Chinese arts and crafts for years. He assists a Beijing personal shopper who brings visitors to great Chinese shops. Sometimes he personally tailors shopping trips in Beijing.
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