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剪纸是中国最为流行的民间艺术之一,根据考古其历史可追朔到公元六世纪,但人们认为它的实际开始时间比这还要早几百年。剪纸常用于宗教仪式,装饰和造型艺术等方面。

在过去,人们经常用纸做成形态各异的物像和人像,与死者一起下葬或葬礼上燃烧,这一习俗在中国境外有时仍可见到。剪纸艺术一般都有象征意义,也是这种仪式的一部分;此外剪纸还被用作祭祀祖先和神仙所用供品的装饰物。

现在,剪纸更多地是用于装饰。剪纸可用于点缀墙壁、门窗、房柱、镜子、灯和灯笼等,也可为礼品作点缀之用,甚至剪纸本身也可作为礼物赠送他人。

Paper cutting is an ancient folk art in China. Archaeological findings trace the tradition back to the sixth century. The beginnings of paper cutting may have taken place even a few centuries earlier. Xu Yang, a paper cutting artist for more than 30 years, says there was already a similar art before the invention of paper.

"Paper cutting is an art form that carves out spaces to create images. About 3,500 years ago, there was a similar art. A piece of carved gold foil was discovered in a cultural relic in the city of Chengdu. It was the forerunner of paper cuttings. After the invention of paper in the Han Dynasty, people started to carve on paper and that was the beginning of paper cutting as we know it today."

Paper cuttings were used for religious purposes, decorations and as patterns. As this is still partly the case outside China, various paper objects and figures used to be buried with the dead or were burned during funeral ceremonies. Paper cuttings, which were usually symbolic, were part of this ritual. They also often served as decorations for sacrificial offerings to ancestors and gods.

Today, paper cuttings are mainly used as decorations. They adorn walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes and are also used for decoration on presents or are given as presents themselves. Shen Xiaohong is a fan of paper cutting.

"I like paper cutting very much. During various festivals, we often buy some paper cuts to decorate the home. I think paper cuts are very beautiful and display strong Chinese characteristics."

During the Spring Festival, people cut animals, flowers and figures in the paper to decorate their windows and doors.

These paper cuttings are therefore sometimes called 'window flowers' or 'picture cuts'. According to Xu Yang, the 'window flowers' are commonly used by families during festivals or on celebratory days.

"The custom of pasting window flowers initially appeared in North China. During festivals such as the New Year, weddings, and celebrations for the birth of a baby, people used paper cuttings to show their pleasure, reflect the prosperous atmosphere or bring good luck."

Paper cuttings are mostly red, as red represents auspiciousness in China. There are also some more varied and colorful paper cuttings, such as those in Henan and Guangdong provinces.

Paper cuttings typically demonstrate the preferred aesthetics of shape and the artistic concepts behind Chinese folk handicrafts. An understanding and scrutiny of paper cuttings is a good basis for understanding and appreciating the complexity of Chinese folk arts.

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