Paper-cut Paper-cut is a reflection of Chinese traditional culture and national art. When early spring festival, many local people like sticking each kind of paper-cut on windows. Paper-cut is a very distinctive visual art of Chinese handicrafts. Around the first century A.D., the Chinese invented that most flexible, versatile and adaptable of materials -- paper. The first paper cut can be traced date back to the period known as the Northern and Southern Dynasties (A.D. 386-581). At that century ,women used to paste golden and silver foil cuttings onto their hair at the temples, and men used them in sacred rituals. Later, they were used during festivals to decorate gates and windows. After hundreds of years' development, now they have become a very popular means of decoration among country folk, especially women. Paper-cut can be seen in all part of China, it even derives different schools. The main cutting tools are simple: paper and scissors or an engraving knife, but clever and deft craftspeople are remarkably good at cutting in the theme of daily life. When you look at items made in this method carefully, you will be amazed by the vivid images of the figures, and the profound emotions the makers want to express. The themes of paper-cut usually are about daily life. Patterns of chrysanthemum display the curling petals, pied magpies show their tiny feathers and others such as a married daughter returning to her parents' home, or young people paying a New Year call to their grandparents. Although other art forms, like painting, can also show similar scenes, paper-cut still stands out for its charm - exacting lines and ingenious patterns which are all hand-made. To make the three-dimensional scenes pop out visually from the paper, as they are usually in monochrome, engravers must exert their imagination. They must delete secondary parts and compose the main body properly, abstractly and boldly. Though simple, the color then appears charmingly bright. It is easy to learn about cutting a piece of paper but very difficult to master it with perfection. People find hope and comfort in expressing wishes with paper cuttings. For example: for a wedding ceremony, red paper –cuts are a traditional and required decoration on the tea set, the dressing table glass, and on other furniture. A big red paper character 'Xi' (happiness) is a traditional must on the newlywed's door. Upon the birthday party of a senior, the character 'Shou' represents longevity and will add delight to the whole celebration; while a pattern of plump children cuddling fish signifies that every year they will be abundant in wealth. 剪纸 民间剪纸是我国传统文化和民族的艺术瑰宝。每到春节,人们都会在门窗上贴上剪纸。 剪纸是独具特色的中国视觉手工艺术。公元一世纪,中国人发明了最灵活,多用的材料—纸。第一张剪纸克追溯到南北朝时期。公元六世纪时,女性在寺庙里要把金,银箔剪贴到头发上,而男子则在神圣的祭祀时使用。渐渐的,剪纸在节庆期间被用来装饰门窗。经过漫长的发展,剪纸如今成为一种很受欢迎装饰艺术,在民间很盛行,尤其受农村妇女的欢迎。 剪纸在中国很多地方都盛行,甚至形成了不同的流派。 剪纸的主要工具很简单:纸张,剪刀和刻刀;但聪慧的民间剪纸艺人能用这些简单的工具表现出日常生活情景。当你看到剪纸艺人用这种方法制作出来的剪纸时,你会为它们逼真的形象,深刻的感情而感到惊奇。剪纸的主题都是关于日常生活的。菊花图案的花瓣, 喜鹊展示它们的微小的羽毛, 已婚女儿回娘家, 或是年轻人新年拜访前辈。 虽然其它的艺术形式比如绘画,也显示相似的场景, 剪纸仍然凸显其魅力——苛求的线条和巧妙的模式, 都是手工制作的。为了使通常是单色的剪纸突显三维效果,雕刻者必须发挥他们的想象力。他们必须抽象地和大胆的删除次要部件和构成主体,这样虽然步骤简单,色彩则显得妩媚明亮。剪纸容易但真的掌握这种技术区很困难。 人们用剪纸表达希望和安逸。例如: 对一场一场婚礼来说, 红色的剪纸是一种传统的要求和必须的装饰, 茶具上,梳妆台上的玻璃, 以及其他的家具都贴上红色剪纸。新婚夫妇必须在门上贴上一张一个大红色的字符'兮”(幸福),这是一种传统习俗,。在长者的生日宴会上, “寿”字剪纸代表长寿, 为整个庆典增添喜悦; 而一个的孩子拥抱鱼的图案意味着每年的好财运和富足的生活。
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