Xiangxi Paper-Cut Crafts

Xiangxi Paper-Cut Crafts

　　Paper-cut art. The paper-cut craft in this county boasts a high level of artistic quality. Over a hundred years ago, this folk art form had already flourished. From the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republican period, there were more than 10 paper-cut workshops in the county town, scattered along streets such as Da Street, Hongqiao, Dongzheng Street, and Cross Street.

The main materials used in paper-cut crafts are bamboo blocks, bamboo strips, wooden sticks, and so on. These are assembled into various figures of people, animals, flowers, plants, insects, fish, and utensils, then covered with parchment paper and painted with colors to create lifelike and vivid images. In the past, Xiang Yazi from outside the South Gate and Hou Yinglong from Biaoying were skilled at making various types of kites, eagles, butterflies, shrimp, crabs, toads, beauties, and opera characters, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship. Teng Laojiao from Zheng Street, Liu Bangwu and Nie Fangjun from Cross Street were also masters of paper-cut crafts.