Features of Chinese Paper-Cut
2 min readFeatures of Chinese Paper-Cut
With a vast territory and multi-ethnic population，Chinese folk paper-cut bears distinct national and geographical features.In art style，northern China is more straightforward，unconstraint，and broad minded；while in the south，it is more exquisite and delicate，full of delight and witty.From the creators，the rural female folk artists use only a pair of scissors and paper to convey their conceptual figures and color effect which surpass time and space；while male-dominant career artists make paper carvings with superb delicacy and graciousness in a more realistic style and art language.
From the functionality in social life，paper-cut for embroidery patterns are given more emphasis on the outline for decorativeness；while cave window decoration gives more delicacy to the inner pattern to let in light.Ingeneral art style，each art work brings out an unique，personal touch of the author.
How to Cut Perfectly
It is easy to learn about cutting a piece of paper but very difficult to master it with perfection.One must grasp the knife in an upright fashion and press evenly on the paper with some strength.Flexibility is required but any hesitation or wiggling will lead to imprecision or damage the whole image.Engravers stress the cutting lines in several styles and there are four ideal but basic lines that they endeavor to master.They attempt to carve a circle like the moon，a straight line like a stem of wheat，a square like a brick，and jaggedly like the beard.
