Chinese Paper-cuts jiǎn zhǐ

monkey,paper-cut,monkey king
The Monkey King is one of the favorite characters from classic Chinese literature and often seen in paper-cut form. In the ‘Journey to the West’ it is the Monkey King's impish antics that repeatedly rescues the heroes from trouble.

Like so many Chinese art-forms, paper-cuts have a very long history, this led UNESCO to add Chinese paper-cuts to the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in 2009. It is an art-form accessible to everyone and has been particularly strong in rural areas because it is so easy for anyone to have a go; just take scissors or a knife and cut away at some paper. They can be simple, made in a minute, to very intricate ones taking many hours or even months to make. It’s an art-form that gets very little space in the academic books on Chinese art and history which is a great shame.

Short history of Paper-cuts

You may think that paper-cuts could not pre-date the Chinese invention of paper in the Han dynasty 2,000 years ago but some early records show that the art-form started off as ‘leaf-cuts’ where large leaves were cut into decorative patterns as long ago as the Zhou dynasty. The rich could apply the same technique to silver foil and leather - remnants have been found of these from the Warring States period (476-221 BCE ). When paper did come along the designs could be more intricate (no leaf veins to accommodate) and more durable than leaves. Paper-cuts became widespread during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). The great Tang poet Du Fu mentions them in one of his poems. Since the Tang dynasty paper-cuts were put in the hair as decorations - even by men. The great Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo is said to have put paper-cut ‘Spring flags’ in his hair, much to the amusement of his family. Later in the Yuan dynasty Marco Polo describes a mock battle on Hangzhou's West Lake where it is likely that the boats were bedecked with red, gold and silver paper-cuts.

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YouTube video about paper-cuts through history [English with Chinese subtitles]

A traditional house had paper rather than glass windows in summer so paper-cuts would often be placed against the window to make pleasing back-lit pattern at night for passers by. These are known as chuāng huā literally ‘Window flowers’. These take on a heightened form when used in lanterns - the paper-cut would be much more prominently back-lit. When used for Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) celebrations the paper-cuts were known as ‘Spring Flags’, and this is the most common time to see them. There are plenty of cold winter days with ample time to make them in the lead up to the festival.

Making paper-cuts

Often a scalpel-like sharp knife is used rather than scissors to cut around sharp corners and cut way small pieces. When using a knife the paper-cut is placed over a waxy surface so the paper can be cut through without damaging the knife. The paper adheres slightly to the wax and so the paper does not crumple when the cuts are made. A skilled artisan would use a combination of scissors and dozens of specialist knives to cut out the design. The artist can produce a paper-cut very quickly. Paper cutting is a technique that requires rapid uniform movement to create clean lines and curves, you must not hesitate once the cut is started. A learner can only tackle the simpler decorative motifs while the artist can produce representations of popular figures from opera and literature (Journey to the West, The Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms).

Thin paper, often rice paper is used for designs that are folded several times, thicker paper or card can be used to give a more durable paper-cut of scenes - especially when used for three dimensional sculptures.

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YouTube video : How to make a simple butterfly paper-cut design and then decorate it [English]

Because red is the lucky color in China, red paper is very popular. In northern China yellow, glossy paper may be used - sometimes for pairs of animals. Some paper-cuts once cut are hand-colored to add extra interest - particularly in recent years for the tourist market.

One common way of transferring the outline of a scene paper-cut is to place it against the sheets of paper to be cut and then expose it to oily smoke from a flame. The template can then be removed leaving the design 'shadow' on the papers underneath. Nowadays spray paint can be used to achieve the same effect. It is common to make several copies of a paper-cut at once by just cutting through several sheets of paper.

It was usually women who made the paper-cuts, it is something that traditionally a someone can do while watching over children. Like sewing it was considered a sure sign of a woman's dexterity.

Types of paper-cut

Popular subjects are the animals of the Chinese zodiac, symbols and couplet characters (particularly for New Year). The paper-cut may be a representation of a scene or a person with intricate work. Some of the designs can be seen in the classic ‘Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden’ c. 1679.

Subject symbolism

paper-cut, Yunnan, tradition
Yunnan regional style paper-cuts. Exhibit in the Yunnan Provincial Museum, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 2011. Image by Daderot available under a Creative Commons License

As it is primarily a rural art-form the images can be of local traditions about life going-on around them. Portrayal of symbols of fertility and protection against evil are common. Rats and rabbits known for their rapid breeding are popular elements to associate with items for marriage celebration. Symbols of coiled snakes can be seen in paper-cuts and earthenware dating back 5,000 years. Individual tribes chose particular animals as their emblem and the yin-yang association of animals is often evident. Where two animals are shown combined (fish with a cockerel's head) they can represent the harmonious union of yin and yang. In art peony may represent male (or yang) and lotus the female (or yin). An ancient paper-cut of five dolls, hand-in-hand is till sometimes used as a talisman against illness in Shaanxi but it is traceable back to the Yangshao culture 6,000 years ago. Another ancient paper-cut is a baby with coiled hair holding a fish often seen at weddings. These ancient, complex compositions are now hard to find.


Astrological animals

The twelve astrological animals of the Chinese zodiac are popular subjects for paper-cuts. There are many forms of the zodiac available, this set are comparatively easy to make.

zodiac,astrology,paper-cut

All twelve animals of the twelve year cycle.

Ancient subjects

Some paper-cut motifs have roots in myths and legends going back thousands of years.

coiled snake,paper-cut,rabbit

A coiled snake is an ancient emblem that can be traced to the Neolithic pottery designs of the Yangshao culture. A rabbit is an emblem of good fortune and is being nurtured rather than eaten by the snake.
paper-cut,five babies

Five linked dolls/babies in an ancient form. It can be traced back 5,000 years in Qinghai province. It is a simple paper-cut to make requiring just five folds followed by cutting out with a knife. The five figures represent the five directions (north, south, east, west and center) and form a talisman to keep out evil from wherever it may come.

Symmetric patterns

In this style the repeating pattern is made by first folding the paper and then cutting through several layers. Complex patterns can be made by folding at one place, cutting and then folding somewhere else. This is the more familiar form of paper-cut found in the west. Western designs tend to be of simple circular form - a circle is folded into quadrants and then cut to produce a symmetric pattern within a circle. Chinese papercuts use more complex forms on oblong or square paper. You need to use thin paper, typically rice paper, to be able to fold it multiple times and still cut it easily. By folding once you get a mirror image pattern - useful for things like butterfly wings. Two folds give a square design, three a hexagonal design, four an octagonal design and so on.


Hidden Meanings

Chinese art-work is very rich in symbolism and there is often an implied meaning of paper-cut designs that you should understand because this may make them unsuitable gifts.

A pair of mandarin ducks cut from red paper was a common gift for a married couple as the pair represent life-long fidelity. There are many creatures and plants that are used in paper-cuts to give a specific meaning. For example pomegranates, qilin, lotus, bamboo, fish, bat, pine trees - please see our symbolism section for an extensive list of them. Some are abstract symbols for example: ‘Eight diagram gourd’, ‘China net’, ‘Endless knot’ and ‘Gourd over a square’ but most are simplified forms of animals and plants.


Characters as Paper-cuts

Quite often the paper cut is an artistic form of single characters such as fú ‘good luck’; xǐ ‘double happiness’ especially for weddings and 寿 shòu ‘long-life’ for birthdays.


Modern designs

In the days of the Cultural revolution designs moved from traditional to a revolutionary theme. The Lu Xun art school , Shaanxi established in 1938 spearheaded the move to show scenes of everyday life out in the countryside - often showing the new power lines, irrigation and roads to laud rural modernization. Scenes from the new revolutionary operas (promoted by Jiang Qing) as well as revolutionary posters were also used for paper-cut designs. After the fall of the Gang of Four styles turned back to more traditional forms. Modern artists have now pushed the art-form in new, innovative directions. Some use computers to generate complex 3-D paper sculptures that would be impossible to do by hand.

mao zedong, cultural revolution
Mao Zedong and the Red Guards. Exhibit in the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon - Eugene, Oregon, USA. Image by Daderot available under a Creative Commons License A typical revolutionary paper-cut from the time of the cult of Chairman Mao Zedong

There are a number of living artists who are making new style paper-cuts, these include Bovey Lee , Leah Wong , Nahoko Kojima , Xin Song and Qiao Xiaoguang .


Three Dimensional Paper-cuts

Although Origami is a Japanese name for something widely regarded as originating in Japan, in fact the form has its roots in China. The combination of cutting and folding to build 3-D images dates back to the Song dynasty which predates the first documented Japanese mention in 1680. In China origami paper sculptures are known as zhé zhǐ ‘fold paper’. They are mainly associated with funerals, where representations of everyday objects are made and then ritually burned to join the spirit of the deceased.

3-D paper-cut,pavilion

It is possible to build up complex scenes with paper card. This scene includes a pavilion, pine trees and bamboo.
Spring 3-D paper-cut,spring character

An attractive but simple 3-D paper-cut of the character for Spring chūn so this is very suitable for Chinese New Year (Spring festival) .
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YouTube video: Zhou Shuying explains how she makes her award winning designs, some taking three years to make. After cutting plain white paper she then colors them with vivid water colors [Chinese with English subtitles]

Miscellaneous paper-cuts

Here are some designs that do not fit the previous categories.

heroic figure,paper-cut,deity
This figure (identification unclear) is an example of fine degree of detail that can be made in a paper-cut. It may be a representation of Guan Di the god of Righteous Action.
panda,paper-cut,bamboo
As it is a papercut it is impossible to do things like the eyes of a Giant Panda (they would fall out!), so in this modern example the designer has just covered them up with its paws.
bird,flowers,paper-cut,honeysuckle
Sparrow-like birds on a honeysuckle plant makes a straightforward design that is easy to make.

Regional variations

Each region of China has its own special subjects and styles, bolder in the north while more intricate in the south . Paper-cuts are less frequent in the far south because the moist tropical air soon attacks the paper. Regions have their own favorite subjects and motifs; in the south: Foshan, Guangdong and Fujian are all well known areas for paper-cuts. Further north in Zhejiang and Jiangsu the style often uses animals, birds and fish. The provinces of ‘old China’ (Shanxi, Shaanxi and Shandong) all have their distinctive provincial styles. Paper-cuts can be pasted over lintels, windows, lanterns, mirrors for any form of celebration. Paper-cuts on the ceiling were ‘Ceiling flowers’ and those on posts or lintels ‘Good luck hangings’.

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YouTube video : A rural artist describes her work of traditional and modern subjects [Chinese with English subtitles]

Paper-cuts used for design

Many designs have started off as paper-cuts but then have been applied to porcelain, lacquer-work or embroidery.

Paper-cuts were often used as a way of transferring a design to something else as a stencil. If a paper-cut is stuck to wood and carved around then a 'wood block' scene is created that can then be inked to produce an indefinite number of copies. The paper-cut origin is evident if all the elements are joined. It could also be used to transfer designs onto porcelain or lacquer-work. In embroidery the paper-cut would be colored to provide the outline of the design to be tacked over with thread.

See also