Chinese Papercuts

中国剪纸

Papercuts refer to handicrafts made by cutting paper with scissors to form different patterns and pasting them on walls, windows, doors and ceilings.

剪纸，顾名思义，就是用剪刀把纸剪出各种图形，并且把它们贴在墙上、窗户、门和天花板上的一种手工艺品。

With their long history, papercuts, which originated in China, have been very popular among the ordinary people of China. The first papercut can be traced back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-581) period. The initiation and spread of papercuts had a close relationship with Chinese rural festivals. People pasted papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals to enhance the festive atmosphere.

起源于中国的剪纸，历史悠久，一直深受中国老百姓的欢迎。第一幅剪纸作品可以追溯到南北朝时期（公元386－581）.剪纸的产生和传播与中国农村的节日有着密切的联系。人们在婚礼或过节时在墙上、窗户、门上贴上剪纸以增强节庆的气氛。

Chinese papercuts are rich in content. The auspicious designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil. The child, lotus and bottle gourd designs suggest a family with a large number of children and grandchildren. Domestic birds, livestock, fruit, fish and worms are also familiar objects depicted by Chinese farmers. Papercuts made in different areas have different characteristics. Shanxi window papercuts are simple and bold; papercuts from Hebei Province and Shanxi Province are bright in color; papercuts in southern provinces are delicate and fine.

剪纸的内容是很有讲究的。吉祥图案寓意吉祥辟邪，娃娃、葫芦、莲花等象征多子多福，家禽家畜，瓜果鱼虫是农民熟悉的对象，也是他们表现的主要内容。剪纸作为一种民间艺术，具有很强的地域风格。陕西窗花风格粗朴豪放，单纯简练，河北蔚县和山西广灵剪纸加染色彩，浓厚中透着秀美艳丽，而中国南方省份的剪纸精美细致，装饰性强。