China's famous Paper--cutting lady,Xu Xun

Chinese paper cutting is a unique artform and has existed for thousands of years with a long history featuring both national and regional themes. Paper began as a precious commodity in the Han Dynasty. Most of the people with access to paper for an entertainment cause such as art were usually nobles in royal palaces^[1]. The Song Dynasty scholar Chou Mi mentioned several paper cutters who cut paper with scissors into a great variety of designs and characters in different styles, and a young man who could even cut characters and flowers inside his sleeve^[2]. The oldest surviving paper cut out is a symmetrical circle from the 6th century found in Xinjiang, China^[2].

From the 7th to 13th century, paper cutting became popular especially during Chinese holiday festivals. The art spread to the rest of the world in the 14th century. Throughout the Qing Dynasty many papercutting skills were developed including drafting and the use of smoked papers. By the end of the Qing ruling however, new art forms were being introduced. The Republic of China later tried to revive the art in the 1980s

In the rural countryside in mainland China, papercutting is a traditionally female activity. In the past, every girl was expected to master it and brides were often judged by their skill. Professional papercutting artists are, on the other hand, usually male and have guaranteed incomes and work together in workshops. Here are some Paper-cutting works of her's .Share together!

Chinese Paper-cutting Art

Ever since paper was invented by Cai Lun during Han dynasty, Chinese paper arts have been developed and existed in China for thousands of years. One of the typical paper arts is that of paper cutting-art (known as Chuanghua 窗花 or Jianzi yishu 剪纸艺术), in which paper can be cut to form different artwork display or representation.

I'm just wondering if anyone can provide more information about this chinese paper-cutting art.

An example of chinese paper cutting art illustrating a dog.

Chinese papercutting is a unique artform and has existed for thousands of years. The common designs made include animals, flowers and figures cut, with scissors or knives. They are mainly made to decorate doors and windows, and therefore are sometimes known as 窗花 chuāng huā (window flowers) or 剪纸 jiǎn zhǐ (paper cutting). Papercutting has long history featuring both national and regional themes. It was most popular throughout the Qing Dynasty during which many skills developed, including drafting and the use of smoked paper.

Cuttings can be made with single or multicolored papers, both of which present pictures both vivid and natural. Various papers can be applied for papercutting. Skilled crafters can even cut out different drawings freely by a pair of scissors without stop.

Though the end product is usually small in size, it can reflect many aspects of life such as prosperity., health, or the harvest. Some cuttings represent stories about the happiness gained from the accomplishment of common goals.

Archeological finds trace the tradition back to the 6th century, although the tradition probably began a few centuries earlier. Paper cuttings were chiefly used for religious purposes or decoration.

Today, papercuttings are chiefly decorative. They ornament walls, windows, doors, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes and are also used on presents or are given as gifts themselves.

Papercuttings have special significance at festivals and on holidays. At the New Year's Festival for example, entrances are decorated with papercuttings which are supposed to bring good luck. Papercuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery and lacquer work.

There are two methods of manufacture: one which uses scissors, and another which uses knives. In the scissors method, several pieces of paper - up to eight - are fastened together. The motif is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors.

Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. Following a pattern, the artist cuts the motif into the paper with a sharp knife which is usually held vertically. The advantage of knife cuttings is that considerably more cuttings can be made in one operation than with scissors.

In the countryside, papercutting is a traditionally female activity. In the past, every girl was expected to master it and brides were often judged by their skill. Professional papercutting artists are, on the other hand, usually male and have guaranteed incomes and work together in workshops.

Amazing China's art!

Regardless of fine arts (gong bi 工笔) or abstract arts (xie yi 写意), black ink must be used in traditional chinese painting. Painting that used only black ink is known as “shui mo hua 水墨画”, while painting that used black ink and colours is known as “cai mo hua 彩墨画”.

Most artists would like to use water and black ink only because the black ink itself will bring out the “yun wei” in the painting. When you are drawing a bamboo leaf or stem, you don’t have to draw the outline but with only one stroke. You can see the colour of the bamboo stem, showing from light to dark, making it looked like 3 dimension. This is the “yun wei 韵味” of the painting.




While drawing waterfalls and clouds, light black ink and water are used in “certain parts” on the white paper. The area left alone will form waterfall and cloud without using white ink. (Actually the waterfall and cloud are only white paper without any colour.)







Below is an example of “gong bi hua” :




Below is an example of “xie yi hua” :

China's various art's form

"夫君子之行：静以修身，俭以养德；非淡泊无以明志，非宁静无以致远。" - 诸葛亮

One should seek serenity to cultivate the body, thriftiness to cultivate the morals. Seeking fame and wealth will not lead to noble ideal. Only by seeking serenity will one reach far. - Zhugeliang

I must admit I'm a little obsessed with Bada's art and, luckily, I've found another person who was just as crazy about his work. That person was Prof. Wang Fangyu (born 1913, Beijin, died 1997, New York City) whom I met about ten years ago while I was still at university. Prof. Wang was a lecturer at Yale University and his field of study was the work of Bada Sharen and other late Ming-early Qing painters. In his spare time, Prof. Wang also practiced calligraphy--and what amazing calligraphy!

Wang Fangyu, Untitled, 1989, calligraphy; courtesy E.J. Frankel Gallery



Wang Fangyu -- work in progress [undated photograph, courtesy Elizabeth Wang Gallery]



Wang Fangyu, Buddha, undated, calligraphy, courtesy Elizabeth Wang Gallery

It's been almost eight years since Prof. Wang passed away; and I still remember our discussions in the humble New York City apartment he shared with his wife Sum Wai. I guess I was just lucky to be so obsessed with Bada Shanren, and luckier still to have met another kindred soul.

Zhu Da--China's famous calligrapher

Chinese painter and poet. A descendant of the imperial Zhu family of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and a leading artist of the early Qing period (1644–1911), Zhu Da painted flowers, birds and landscapes in a distinctive and highly dramatic calligraphic style.


Bada Shanren, Landscape

His connections with the previous dynasty led him to flee Nanchang after the Manchu conquest of China in 1644. Adopting the sobriquet Chuanqi, Zhu Da became a Buddhist priest and soon a respected Buddhist master, quickly attaining the position of abbot. He also became an accomplished poet and painter; his earliest extant work is an album of 15 leaves (1659; Taipei, National Palace Museum).


Bada Shanren, Self-Portrait

In 1672, after the death of his Buddhist master, Abbot Hong min, Zhu Da relinquished his solitary monastic existence to pursue his fortune as an itinerant monk-artist. He joined the coterie of Hu Yitang, magistrate of Linchuan County, and participated in the splendid poetry parties held in 1679 and 1680. Zhu Da was thwarted in his attempts to take up an official career because of his imperial lineage and in 1680 was devastated by the departure of his patron Hu Yitang.


Bada Shanren, The Melon and the Moon

Bada Shanren, Fish

Reportedly, Zhu Da went mad; one day, laughing and crying uncontrollably, he tore off his priest’s robe and set it on fire. The burning of the robe signaled the end of Zhu Da’slife as a Buddhist monk, and from then on he lived as an itinerant painter. Between 1681 and 1684 he called himself Lu (‘donkey’ or ‘***’), a derogatory name for monks, or Lu hu (‘donkey house’); from 1684 onwards he called himself Bada Shanren (‘Mountain man of eight greatnesses’). Zhu Da adopted other names throughout his life, many reflecting his state of mind or his loyalty to the Ming dynasty. Of these, only a few (such as Chuanqi, which identifies his earliest extant work) were used as signatures, the most common being Bada Shanren.
[Poet's note: the four Chinese characters which make up Ba Da Shan Ren--when written closely together--actually mimic the Chinese phrase for "Laughing and crying at the same time."]


Bada Shanren, Flower, Rock and Two Fish

Zhu Da developed a school of freehand brushwork in traditional Chinese painting and became an outstanding painter and Taoism believer. The individualism of his ink paintings of flowers, birds, fish, and landscapes appealed to the Japanese, and his style has become synonymous with Zen painting in Japan. There is an Art Gallery of Bada Shanren in a southern suburb of Nanchang. The gallery was once a Taoist temple called Qingyunpu and legend says that 2,500 years ago Qiao, son of Emperor Ling of the Zhou dynasty (1100-221BC) came here to seek a way to produce pills that would make him immortal.


Bada Shanren, Lotus


Bada Shanren, Birds


source of text: chinapage.com