The Southeast folk paper-cut
3 min readSoutheast region is located in China’ scoastal areas. The developed commercial economy and numerous talents constitute the unique artistic and cultural style. Jiangsu and Zhejiang are the placeswhere men of letters gather since ancient times, and this prosperity of culture andart establishes the foundation for early literary trend of Chinese folk paper-cut, so poetry and paintings become an important way of artistic expression.
Fujian, Guangdong and other regions are relatively advanced areas of business development during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and similarly, the developed commercial trade promotes the commercial development of the Chinesepaper-cut art, and therefore makes the folk paper-cut develop an artistic road with a strong commercial taste.
①Yueqing fine lines paper-cut of Zhejiang
Yueqing is located in the foot of beautiful Yandang Mountains which is located in the southeast coast of Zhejiang Province.Yueqing belongs to the land of Wuyue in ancient times and has a history of more than 1600 years.Yueqing paper-cut develops under the dual inoculation of Ouyue culture and Ocean culture.
The activities of pray for good harvest and belief of sea god and dragonman constantly enrich the local folk paper-cut art，and”fish-lamp”，”dragon-boatlantern”and so on，make the important content of Yueqing folk paper-cut.Yueqing microgroove paper-cut starts and develops along with the”dragon-boat lantern”of the Southern Song Dynasty, and people used to call it “dragon-boat paper-cut”. With people’s constant pursuit and creation for the spiritual life, as well as the comprehensive understanding of Ouyue culture, and Ocean culture and agricultural civilization, microgroove paper-cut has become increasingly mature, which exhibits the exquisite, abundant, vivid and diverse characteristics, and gradually forms Yueqing paper-cut art with distinct regional culture feature and art characteristic, which makes it unique tobe shown in the world. Fine lines paper-cut becomes the main symbol of Yueqing paper-cut.
The basic features of Zhejiang paper-cut: from the modeling perspective, it pays attention to the large image contour shape, while the dense cutting lines are filled within the overall image. Different forms of incised line organization lead to the rhythmic visual effect with black and white gray image, and it forms the southern style with rich structural hierarchy and technological beauty.
②Foshan folk paper-cut of Guangdong
Foshan folk paper-cut of Guangdong is originated from the Song Dynasty, while-flourishes in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Foshan is located in the south of China.
The commercial trade is relatively developed with mild and humid climate.Paper cutting application has formed its own characteristics. Foshan paper-cut is mostly used as decorative supplies, and it is wide used especially in the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn festival and marriage or funeral.
Foshan is the birthplace of Lingnan culture, and Foshan paper-cut is one of the most representative treasures of Foshan folk culture and art. Foshan paper-cut is unique in the use of material, which uses a large number of copper foil, tinfoil and silver foil. With the inheritance and development of numerous artists, it gradually forms its own unique paper-cut art taste.
The basic features of Foshan paper-cut art: besides the common paper-cut features, its technology forms are various with the featured technologies of chisel, lining, imprint and freehand sketching; it has more rich artistic characteristics in aspect of color application, and then forms pure color paper-cut, lining color paper-cut and copper chisel paper-cut, etc.
③Zhangzhou folk paper-cut of Fujian
Zhangpu folk paper-cut art is an important part of the Fujian folk art treasures. Zhangpu paper-cut has a long history, and it has formed anactive cultural scene early in Tang and Song Dynasties. Zhangpu paper-cut has a distinctive regional characteristics, and it is different from the brief and straightforward features of the Northeast Manchu paper-cut,and simple and massive features og of the Northwest paper-cut, also it differs from the original and mysterious features of Southwest paper-cut, and delicate and beautiful features of South paper-cut. The basic features of Zhangpu folk paper-cut are that it has the vivid general image, abundant techniques, rigorous and plump layout, and exquisite knife skills; the realism and the decorative style are combined together with performance with rich painting meanings. This open and fresh artistic breath extremely has the characteristics of Ocean culture, from which you can feel a kind beauty of modern art.
