User:Giraffegrandma/Chinese paper cutting

Introduction
Chinese paper cutting is a treasured traditional Chinese art dating back to when paper was developed. Paper cutting became popular as a way of decorating doors and windows as paper became more accessible. These elaborate cutting designs are created with scissors or artwork knives and can include a variety of shapes, such as symbols and animals.

Characteristics
Chinese papercutting is an art form from the Chinese cultural legacy that displays a wide range of designs, from simple to symmetrical, which are created by folding the paper into proportionate portions before cutting. Typically, the designs are freeform and depict scenes from daily life.

Red paper is the most prevalent because it is connected with happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture. Thus, it is popularly used to celebrate important events such as weddings and festivals. Paper cutting is consistently evolving and has developed beyond China, with artists developing new techniques and materials to keep this art form alive.

Construction Methods
Chinese papercutting involves cutting intricate, exquisite designs from a single or multiple layers of paper with scissors or artwork knives. It is passed down through generations because both procedures demand a great deal of talent and skills. The construction methods of papercutting involve several steps, including the selection of paper materials, specifically types and colors depending on the desired effect. The selected paper is then folded multiple times, and the pattern is drawn onto it. Next, cut the design out carefully, either with scissors or an art knife. Finally, the paper cutout is opened up to reveal the exquisite design, which can be further enhanced with additional details such as coloring and shading. The construction of papercutting requires patience, skill, and carefulness, as well as the creativity and artistry of artists.

Scissor construction method
The scissor construction approach involves taping multiple sheets of paper together and then cutting off the designated shapes using sharp scissors. This cutting of multiple paper layers at the same time enables a more consistent pattern.

Knife construction method
On the other hand, in the artwork knife construction approach, the design is carved out with a sharp knife, commonly following a pattern, but expert artisans can alternatively cut varied shapes freely.

Tang Dynasty
Although paper was officially invented during the Han Dynasty, techniques for cutting and carving thin materials such as gold foil, silk, and leaves were developed for decoration prior to the invention of paper. During the Tang Dynasty, paper cutting developed rapidly and became popular in China, which typically combined paper cutting with painting to illustrate spiritual ideas.

Song Dynasty
During the Song Dynasty, Chinese papercutting developed into a more advanced technique, with trained artisans creating more complex artworks. The technique was used to decorate ceramics and make shadow puppets. By carving patterns onto oily cardboard and scraping patterns onto the fabric, blue-printed fabric came about.

Ming and Qing Dynasties
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, papercutting became a more popular Chinese art form. There are a variety of uses, including lantern and fan ornaments, needlework patterns, and window flowers. The imperial family also utilized papercutting, with the Forbidden City decorated with papercuts during the emperor's wedding ceremony. Its continual appeal reflects the Chinese people's creativity, with designs expressing cultural ideas and values.

Monochrome paper cutting
Monochrome paper-cutting is the most basic form, with the main colors being red, green, brown, black, gold, and so on. There are three main expressions of monochromatic paper-cutting, namely, Yin-engraving, Yang-engraving, and Yin-Yang combination. There are many different expressions of monochrome paper-cutting.

1. Folding paper-cutting
Folding paper cutting is one of the most common methods of folk expression. Folding paper cuttings are paper cuttings made by folding in different ways. Its characteristics are extremely symmetrical unfolding and can change a variety of suitable shapes, two-party continuous, four-party continuous, or multi-party continuous. Classic paper-cutting patterns such as "pair of horses" and "pair of monkeys" are produced by folding paper-cutting. The characteristics of Folding paper cutting are easy to cut and saves time.

2. Silhouette
The silhouette expresses the shape of people and objects through the outer contour, so its focus is generally on the shape of the outer contour, and the silhouette is generally limited by contour modeling to show the sides of people or other objects. Processing is done with scissors or a carving knife, and black or dark paper is used to enhance the expression of the silhouette. Its production process is generally cut while looking at the object.

3. Tear Paper
Using different types of paper, we create different effects by hand instead of cutting. Although this technique has great limitations and is not suitable for expressing the effect of delicate work, it shows the characteristics of boldness and majesty. The technique of tearing paper reflects randomness and naturalness.

Colored paper cutting
Colored paper-cutting is the development of monochrome paper-cutting. Using different colors to show different features.

1. Dyeing paper cutting
Dyeing with color on the paper. This type of paper cutting is also classified as engraved paper, favoring a small area of shaded engraving to leave a large area of the sunny side for spot dyeing. Dot-dyed paper cutouts generally use magenta and magenta green for dyeing cloth. It is similar to the color mixing of gouache painting. "As soon as the color melts into the raw Xuan paper, it immediately spreads up and down and can dye three or five sheets at a time. The parts that do not have enough penetration can be turned over to make up the brush on the back. When mixed with white wine or alcohol, the permeability is very strong, and it is used on paper with strong water absorption such as Xuan paper. Since alcohol and white wine do not contain glue, the paper surface remains flat and wrinkle-free after the alcohol evaporates, which produces a better halo effect. "

2. Color-coded paper cutouts
The color cut paper sets are usually carved mainly in the sun, with a large area of hollowing. On the back of the work, there are color blocks cut out of black or gold paper, which are attached with different colors according to skin color, costumes, artifacts, flowers and trees.

Although the set of color paper cutting with color is more free and easy to choose, but more than one color does have to play a more role, two colors can be summarized, never add a third color. The use of sophisticated color, simple and appropriate techniques, is the performance of artistic excellence.

3. Color separation paper cutting
Color separation paper cutouts are color combination paper cutouts. Paper cut in different color shapes is used to assemble the picture. Different colors and patterns have different representations and importance.

4. Color-woven paper cutting
Color-woven paper cutting is a type of paper-cutting that uses a combination of weaving and cutting. Strips of paper of different colors are woven together to form different patterns. This type of paper cutting can not only make flat works but also three-dimensional works.

=== Three-dimensional paper-cut === The three-dimensional paper-cutting can be both monochrome and colorful. It makes the paper cutout change from a flat sense to a three-dimensional one.

Factions
Paper-cutting is one of the oldest and the most popular folk arts in China. It can be geographically divided into a southern and a northern style. The Southern style, represented by works from Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province and Yueqing in Zhejiang Province, features ingenious and beautiful designs, exquisite carving, and interesting shapes. The Northern style, mainly from Yuxian and Fengning in Hebei Province, and best represented by works from northern Shaanxi, features exaggerated shapes, vigorousness, vivid depictions and diverse patterns

Southern critics
==== 1. Zigong Paper Cutting ==== Zigong folk paper-cutting began in the Ming and Qing dynasties and has been handed down for more than 400 years. It is characterized by its simplicity and richness, freshness and brightness, cleverness in the clumsiness, strangeness in the plainness, strong decorative flavor and modern sense.

==== 2. Hubei Mianyang Paper cutting ==== Mianyang carved paper cutouts are carved by folk artists on wax discs with carving knives and white paper, which can overlap one or twenty layers of white paper. The carving knives used are mostly made of clockwork and scalpels. The wax plate is composed of vegetable oil, white wax and incense burner ashes in a small wooden disc. Contrary to the rough and spirited characteristics of northern paper-cutting, Mianyang's carved paper-cutting appears to be fine and delicate.

1. Nanjing Paper cutting
Nanjing paper-cutting has been very popular in the early Ming Dynasty. 1950s. Its individual characteristics are more prominent, and the northern paper-cutting and the southern paper-cutting of the rough and delicate as one. In addition, Nanjing paper-cutting is created without drawing, and the lines are continuous after cutting, just like "one stroke painting", which is completed in one go, and the skill is very high.

Northern critics
==== 1. Gansu Paper cutting ==== As an important representative of the northern school of Chinese paper-cutting, Gansu paper-cutting is one of the main birthplaces of the Chinese national paper-cutting art. Many folk paper-cutting patterns and paper-cutting concepts in Gansu are extremely primitive, and the original symbols of paper-cutting left behind are extremely ancient, and many folk paper-cutting patterns are called by experts and scholars as the reproduction of the artistic image of the source of Chinese national culture, and are "living fossils" of the historical objects of Chinese national folk culture.

Decorative Use
Chinese papercutting is mostly used for decoration nowadays. Many Chinese people decorate their windows with paper cuttings to express enthusiasm for the new season or new year. Paper cuttings are also used in homes to decorate walls, doors, lamps, and lanterns and are often presented as gifts. Furthermore, paper cuttings pasted near entrances symbolize good luck. This traditional habit festively decorates houses and special occasions.

Symbolic Use
The most popular papercutting designs are the characters 福 and 囍. The character 福 is a symbol of good luck and is often displayed during Chinese New Year celebrations to bring fortune and prosperity for the coming year. The character 囍 is commonly used for weddings, symbolizes double happiness and the hope for a fulfilling marriage. These papercuts are important Chinese cultural symbols and are cherished for their aesthetic beauty.

Spiritual Use
Chinese paper cuttings' designs are often used to express hopes, appreciation, and other spiritual emotions. Common Chinese papercutting motifs include representations of harvests, animals, and mythical stories such as the carp jumping over the dragon gate. Chinese people express cultural heritage, values, and beliefs through the art of papercutting, making it a significant element of their spiritual expression.

Educational Use
Chinese papercutting has educational uses that teach children about traditional Chinese art and culture and the beauty of papercutting while learning Chinese papercutting history. Practicing paper cuts also helps children enhance their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity.