Paper-cutting

Paper-cutting

　　　　Product Name: Paper-cutting

　　Place of Origin: Wenzhou

　　Product Features: Lifelike, dazzling, and richly colorful

　　Product Introduction: Paper-cutting evolved alongside the development of dragon boats into what is known as dragon boat flowers (now fine-line paper-cutting). Fine-line paper-cutting later shifted toward being made for decorative dragon lanterns. In the pursuit of ornamental beauty for these dragon lanterns, artisans carefully selected a variety of colored papers and cut out designs featuring themes such as “bumper harvest,” “dragon and phoenix bringing prosperity,” “thriving livestock,” “mandarin ducks on plum blossoms,” “pine and crane symbolizing longevity,” “abundance year after year,” and “blessings, wealth, longevity, and joy.” They employed techniques that contrasted light and shadow and combined thick and thin lines to create vivid and lifelike images. With their dazzling and richly colorful appeal, these works have earned widespread acclaim among the public.

　　Product History: Paper-cutting is a form of scissors-cut art. As early as the Yuan Dynasty, artisans in front of Xiangyang Temple in Yueqing created these works to cater to the folk custom of pasting window and door gods during the Lantern Festival.