subject: Chinese Handicrafts Art [print this page] Chinese Handicrafts Art Chinese Handicrafts Art
Chinese Paper-cut is the art of cutting designs in paper, and the art of pierced work. It brings the pierced feelings on visual and artistic treats. However, "Chinese Paper-cut" is more than paper and cutting. Chinese Paper-cut is also called window decoration, scissor-cut or paper-engrave. Some works require different tools, such as scissors and graver. The works of the two types almost representatives the same art effects. That's why people call it paper-cut. Apart from paper, the carrier (material) of paper-cut can be gold (silver) foil, tree bark, tree leaves, cloth, leather, etc.
The paper-cut handicraft has its own development process. Paper was invented in the western Han Dynasty (around 6 century BC), so paper-cut will not appear before that time. However, it is very popular before the time paper appeared that the people engraved handiwork with thin slice materials by pierced work technique.
In 1967, Chinese archaeologists found paper-cut handiwork in Turpan Depression of Xinjiang province. It was the first time that Chinese archaeologist found paper-cut work. The invention of paper caused that paper-cut appeared, developed and be popular. Paper is a material which is easy to be rusty. The climate of south-east China is moist, and it mildews and rots paper when the paper exposes. Further more, paper-cut is a popular thing in folk, the ancient Chinese people did not treat it as treasure and saved it well. Meanwhile, the climate of north-west China is dry and less rainy that makes the paper not easy to be rusty. There is no wander that the first paper-cut works was found in Xinjiang.
Paper-cut lied in great development period in Tang Dynasty. Its high technique can be recognized from the Tang Dynasty paper-cuts in British Museum. The paper-cuts in Tang Dynasty have completed pictures and structures, which representative a perfect world. And then about a century years later, papermaking industry was mutual in Song Dynasty. The rich types of paper offered the conditions which made paper-cut popular. Paper-cut handicrafts became mutual and it was in its golden age during the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty.
In 2009, 29 Chinese elements were inscribed on UNESCO's World Intangible Cultural Heritages List. Paper-cut is one of them.
