On the origin of paper-cutting.

China is the hometown of paper-cutting art, and according to many related materials, it originated in the Central Plains. Fuyang has a long history, simple folk customs and rich cultural atmosphere. As early as the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the art of paper-cutting appeared, and enjoyed a high reputation for its traditional and diverse themes, full and rigorous composition and strong local flavor.

The Development History of Paper-cutting

The Development of Paper-cutting Folk paper-cutting is an ancient traditional folk art in China. It has a long history and unique style, and is deeply loved by people at home and abroad. The main material of paper-cutting is paper. Paper is one of China's four great inventions. It has always been recognized that papermaking was invented by Cai Lun around 105. Later, paper from the Western Han Dynasty was unearthed in Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province. Experts believe that paper appeared in China before Emperor Han Ping, probably during the period of Xuan Di (73 BC-49 BC). No matter what the final conclusion is, there will be no real paper-cutting before the invention of paper. However, other plates are used for cutting and carving, but before there is paper. Let's look at related cultural relics and historical records:

During the Warring States Period (22 BC1), during the excavation of the Warring States site in Guwei Village, Huixian County, Henan Province, 1 1950+0952, arc ornaments carved with silver foil were found. (2) Gold ornaments of the Jin Dynasty unearthed in Huangniqi, Changsha, Hunan. Although these decorations hollowed out with silver foil can't be said to be paper-cut, they can be said to have formed the predecessor of paper-cut art in carving technology and artistic style.

In the Northern Dynasty (AD 386-534), paper was cut into beautiful patterns. At present, the earliest and well-documented discovery is near the Flame Mountain in Turpan, Xinjiang, where five paper-cuts of group flowers were unearthed.

The Southern and Northern Dynasties were contrary to horsetail flowers. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were monkey flowers. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were honeysuckle flowers. Chrysanthemum in Southern and Northern Dynasties. Eight groups of flowers were used in the Southern and Northern Dynasties.

In the Tang Dynasty (AD 6 18-907), paper-cut patterns were applied to other crafts: ① 1963- 1965 paper-cut unearthed in Turpan, Xinjiang. ② 1973 Xi 'an unearthed leather hat has hollow patterns. (3) From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, a kind of gold and silver inlay technology was developed. The carved gold and silver foil was stuck on the back of lacquerware or bronze mirror, filled with pigment, and dried to show a golden pattern on the painted floor. The gold and silver mirror of the Tang Dynasty unearthed in Zhengzhou, Henan Province (diameter 36.2cm) ④ The gold foil engraved with "Man Sheng" in the Tang Dynasty is now in Zhengcang Hospital, Japan. ⑤ 195 1 Gold Foil Carvings of Han Dynasty Unearthed in Changsha, Hunan.

In Song Dynasty (960- 1279), there were many records about paper-cutting in Song Dynasty. Some paper-cuts are decorated as gifts, some are pasted on windows, some are decorated with lanterns, and some are cut into so-called "dragons and tigers". There were artists who took this as their profession in the Southern Song Dynasty. Some of them are good at cutting "various calligraphy characters", while others specialize in cutting "various colors and patterns". At this time, shadow play was popular, and the materials for carving shadow play were not only animal skins, but also thick paper. Paper-cutting in Song Dynasty is an important creation of craft decoration. It's porcelain from Jizhou kiln. Its products include teacups and vases. There are many patterns, such as phoenix, plum blossom, loquat and auspicious words. It's lively. It is made by the author in the process of glaze, paper-cutting and firing in the kiln. Modern folk blue printed cloth is made of carved cardboard, then imitated and dyed. This printing and dyeing technology has been very common in the Song Dynasty, and the printed cloth of the Southern Song Dynasty unearthed in Shanxi is an example.

In the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368- 1644), gauze lanterns were very famous. It is a paper-cut sandwiched between yarns. Patterns reflected by candlelight are another application of paper-cutting in daily life. Now people call it "lantern".

In the Qing Dynasty (A.D.1644-1911), paper-cutting was handed down. In the Kunning Palace of the Palace Museum in Beijing, paper-cut patterns of black dragons and phoenixes are set off with white paper.

Records of paper-cutting in relevant historical books;

Among the poems left by Cui Daorong in the Tang Dynasty, there is such a sentence: "If you want to cut Yichun characters, people will cut them in spring." The Yichun Post mentioned here is also known as the "paper-cut art work", and the poem "Man Shuo" by Li Shangyin, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, is also written here: "Carve gold to gain popularity, cut the ribbon to gain popularity." Duan's Youyang Miscellaneous Notes said: "On the day of beginning of spring, the home of literati, paper-cutting is a kind of Xiaoping, which is hung on the head of a beautiful woman or decorated under a flower, and cut into a spring butterfly, which wins the drama with spring.

Zhou Mi wrote in his Miscellaneous Notes on Poems in Zia Hall in the Southern Song Dynasty: "Therefore, all people have titles of heaven, and those who cut all kinds of colorful patterns are extremely exquisite. And those who are more ambitious in the Central Plains will be professional every time they cut their calligraphy. Later, some teenagers have been able to cut words and flowers on their sleeves very accurately. " That is, "Kaifeng" mansion, and "pattern paper-cutting" naturally refers to "paper-cutting".