The Southwest folk paper-cut
3 min readLocated in the southwest border of China, Southwest region is a centralized gathering area of variety of minorities.
Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan are located in the depths of the mountains, and the brooky and closed environment formed their unique cultural spirit connotations. The common cultural structure of the minorities here is the animism, which retains a large number of original visual aesthetic objects, and the integration development between different nationalities makes their culture bring out distinctive charm.
This paper-cut is the well-known pattern, and its main purpose is to be the basictype of embroidery. These embroidery sample pattern has rich content, unique modeling, and strong aesthetic feeling ofform, and a few of them are considered as utilitarian paper-cut which could be used in religious activities of fete or”sorcerer’s dance”. Craftsmen portrays their pattern samples before cutting, which is another important feature of paper-cut in this area. Miao paper cutting is like this, and after carefully drawing and producing artwork based on samples, internal shape usually applies the way of cutting through or going into a line with a needle point, so the whole work looks complicated but notchaotic, fine but not greasy. Essentially, this should be considered prior to the use of embroidery handmade paper-cut design expressed, in terms of the original manual process, so the design process is significant, while the minority areas has also created a unique Southwest artistic style unconsciously.
①Yunan folk paper-cut
Yunnan folk paper-cut is an important form of ethnic culture carrier in Southwest region. Through the simple styling, Yunnan folk paper-cut is full of original meaning, from which lW we can see some mysterious religious feelings. Yunnan folk paper-cut can be divided into bird fleas paper-cut, national customs paper-cut and Buddhist ritual paper-cut. The paper-cut form of Buddhism ritual is the extreme representative form among them. The elements of life can be revealed from these graphic symbols of Yunnan folk paper-cut. It reflectsmore of an expression of the human’s desire which prays for longevity, safety and lucky, eliminates catastrophe and enjoys happiness, and naturally reveals a pursuit of the spiritual content of life and health.
② Hunan and Guizhou folk paper-cut
South of Dongting Lake is located in the hills, where rivers crisscross, the rosy clouds are slowly rising, and the view is majestic and grand.
Witchcraft is popular here since the ancient times, and people believe in gods. Folk arts emerging with the ritual activities naturally give birth to the relative technique of paper-cut and papering. Culture of Hunan and Hubei and witchcraft culture have formed an indivisible relationship, and this eventually positively makes influence on the folk paper-cut art style of Hunan and Guizhou area, which forms theoriginal romantic paper-cut art.
The exorcising opera and dance in western Hunan and southeastern Guizhou is a remaining activity of ritual dance of ancient Chu State. Wearing exorcising masks is the salient feature of the event form. So far, the folk paper-cut still retains the custom of cutting exorcising masks.
The basic features of Miao paper-cut in Hunan and Guizhou areas: naive and full of original passion is one big characteristic of it. Differing from the paper-cut in northern areas, it is affected profoundly by culture of Hunan and Hubei, which shows a romantic temperament and positive spirit of idealism. Someone said “the Miao nationality is a nation that writes the history on the costume”, and paper-cut is an important part of Miao embroidery and garment art with distinct regional features and ethnic characteristics. The splendid Miao embroidery and costumes are precise due to the Miao paper-cut. Zaohua is another big feature of Hunan and Guizhou paper-cut, the patterns of Zaohua has a close relationship with dress culture of western Hunan. The pattern of Zaohua is not only a form of Miao’s women to beautify the life, while Zaohua, embroidery and dress patterns are a language carrier of the national cultural image.
