Origin and Development of Paper-cuts

Chinese paper-cuts

As one of the most popular folk arts in China, paper-cuts were originally used in making sacrifices to ancestors or as the molds for embroidery. Later, paper-cuts were mostly used as decorations on walls, doors, windows, house. Some paper-cuts were even presented to others as gifts directly.

Paper-cutting boasts a long history in the countryside of China. A legend has it that Concubine Li was the favorite of Emperor Wu in the Western Han Dynasty (265 - 316). After her death, Emperor Wu couldn't sleep or eat well as he longed for Concubine Li very much, so he asked a wizard to cut an image of Concubine Li in linen paper to call up her spirit. It might be the earliest paper-cut in China. Later, Cai Lun, a Chinese court official, improved papermaking based on the experience of the forefathers. Thus, paper-cutting developed as a kind of art among the common folk.

During the Tang (618 - 907) and Song (960 - 1279) Dynasties, the activity of paper-cutting was centralized on the day of Beginning of Spring, symbolizing revivification of nature and growing prosperity. On that day, people cut swallows, butterflies, and other symbols of spring. In the Song Dynasty, paper-cuts were further popularized. People used paper-cuts as patterns of ceramics in Jizhou kiln of Jiangxi Province. In addition, people carved the skin of donkeys, cattle, horses and goats into the figures of people for shadow plays by using the form of paper-cuts as a stencil. Paper-cuts were then also used as the decorations for windows, doors, lights and so on.

Handicraftsmen using paper-cutting as a career appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279). Some were good at cutting characters, and some specialized in cut flowers and other designs.

Paper-cuts experienced a prosperous time in the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) Dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, people placed paper-cuts in-between the gauze covering a lantern, and lit a candle inside, and then the 'shadow-picture lantern' was created. In the Qing Dynasty, paper-cuts were brought into the palace.

Nowadays, paper-cuts are used widely in such things as the packaging of products, brands, advertisement, upholstery, clothes design, decorative art in books, stamp design, title design in the press, serial pictures, stage art, animation, movies ,TV as well as many other areas.

Origin and Development of Paper-cuts

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