Paper effigies

Paper effigies

　　Paper effigies, integrating paper-cutting, painting, straw weaving, bamboo framework, and paper mounting, are a unique form of folk art. The exact time when the art of paper effigies was introduced to Wulian remains unknown. According to an elderly resident of Hongning Village, his ancestors had been engaged in the craft of making paper effigies as early as the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, and he is now the fifth-generation inheritor.

　　There are dozens of paper effigy makers in Wulian County, primarily located in the county seat of Hongning and towns such as Dujiagou, Chaohe, Xumeng, Yuli, and Wanghu. Before liberation, they mostly made paper effigies of oxen, horses, sedan chairs, cabinets, treasure basins, money trees, lotus platforms, and human figures, which were used for memorial ceremonies and burials. Sometimes they also made kites, featuring designs such as the Heavenly Palace, Eight Trigrams, phoenix, Liu Hai, butterflies, swallows, and Chang’e. They also crafted colored lanterns and dragon lanterns. In daily life, these were often used as decorations for weddings and newly built houses, such as creating canopies or beautifying bridal chambers.

　　With the development of the times, the ancient art of “paper effigies” has absorbed strengths from other art forms and has once again shone with new brilliance. Starting in 1981, the Wulian County Cultural Center and Library jointly organized a Spring Festival lantern riddle event, where paper effigy lanterns submitted by various villages displayed diverse shapes and vibrant colors, creating a truly splendid sight. In 1986, Hongning Village created a paper effigy artwork titled “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl.” Two dragons coiled around two pillars with a precious pearl in the center, surrounded by swirling colorful clouds. The artwork was only one meter tall, yet featured a unique design and profound symbolism. During the 1987 Spring Festival, the Wulian County Supply and Marketing Cooperative crafted a dragon-shaped float. Two giant dragons were mounted on either side of the vehicle, moving as the car moved, swaying their heads and tails as if real dragons soaring through the clouds. The spectators gathered around the float, cheering and praising it enthusiastically.