中國民間剪紙藝術

The Art of Chinese Papercuts

The attraction of the traditional Chinese folk art of papercutting lies in its apparent simplicity: a typical papercut requires no pairits or brushes, only an ordinary pair of scissors or a knife, and a single sheet of paper. Unique among Chinese folk arts, papercutting's influence on other fields and its number and variety of products reveal the depth of its roots in popular culture as a means of beautifying the everyday environment. In recent years, as a number of papercut artists have gone abroad to exhibit their works and demonstrate their skills, both the interest in and the market for Chinese papercuts have increased. This book is intended to provide an introduction to the origins and history, the style, the themes, and the techniques involved in papercutting. It is illustrated with more than 200 reproductions, half of which are in colour. In addition to enjoying the country charm of the papercuts, readers may try their own hand at paper-cutting by following the instructions given in the last section of the book.

Contents

Foreword

1. Origins and History

Before Papercuts

Ancient Customs

The Earliest Examples of Papercuts

Papercuts and Printed Textiles

Papercut Designs Fired onto Porcelain

The Appearance of Papercut Artisans

The Many Uses of Papercuts

2. Patterns and Styles

The Ornamental Appeal of Papercuts

Basic Characteristics

A Large Variety of Design

A Distinctive Style

Famous Papercut Artisans

3. Themes and Content

Good-Luck Characters and Sayings

Traditional Fairy Tales and Characters

4. The Techniques of Papercutting

Tools and Materials

The Basic Skills

The Basic Steps

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About the Author Born Jn 1932 in Zouping County,Shandong Province, Zhang Daoyi has been working as an art teacher ever since his graduation from Shandong University's Department of Fine Arts in 1952. He is now an associate professor at Nanjing College of Art,

honorary chairman of the Chinese Papercuts Society, a standing council member of the Jiangsu Aesthetics Society, an advisor to the Research Society on the History of Arts and Crafts, and deputy council director of the Nanjing Society of Arts and Crafts. Over the years, he has been engaged in the study of art history and folk arts, occasionally turning out a book-cover or ornamental design. Among his books published in Chinese are Ancient Jewellery,Landscape Designs and Chinese Folk Papercuts - An Introduction and Appreciation.