Foshan paper-cutting

Foshan paper-cutting has a long history, originating from the Song Dynasty and flourishing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Since the Ming Dynasty, Foshan paper-cutting has been mass-produced by specialized industries, and its products are sold within the province, central and southwestern provinces, and exported to Southeast Asian countries.

Foshan paper-cutting can be divided into copper lining, paper lining, copper writing, silver writing, woodcut overprinting, copper chisel, solid color and other categories according to its production materials and methods. It uses local specialty copper foil and silver foil, and uses cutting, carving, chiseling and other techniques to line various colored papers and paint and print various patterns to form paper-cuts with strong colors, brilliant golden walls and rich southern characteristics. Foshan paper-cutting has both delicacy and elegance, as well as vigorous and vigorous expression techniques. The materials and techniques are selected according to the needs of use.

In ancient times, paper-cutting was mainly used for decoration of holiday gifts, sacrificial decoration, embroidery and carving patterns, product trademarks, etc. With the development of society, Foshan paper-cutting, on the basis of tradition, has the characteristics of rigorous composition, strong decoration, translucency and elegance, and splendid golden walls. It is mostly characterized by reflecting the life themes of the times, creating a path of innovation in traditional art. It is relatively representative in the art of paper-cutting in my country.

Foshan paper-cutting has a long history. As early as the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it had become a commodity production and reached its peak during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Foshan paper-cutting art can be divided into two categories: cutting and engraving. Paper-cutting is based on folk paper-cutting and emerged with the production of commodities and the needs of the masses. The engraving paper uses Foshan's famous specialty copper foil and colored paper as the main raw materials, and has a unique local style such as rich colors, boldness and boldness. In terms of production methods, there are three categories: material-engraved paper, writing-engraving paper, and solid-color paper-cutting. Copper lining, copper writing materials, and copper chisel materials are the most distinctive.

Copper lining is to use a carving knife to carve the lines and skeleton of the picture on the copper foil, and then line it with colored paper on the back according to the production and design needs; copper writing is an art form that combines painting and paper-cutting , first use a carving knife to carve the outline of the picture on the copper foil, and then use glue to mix pastel and paint the picture. The copper chisel material is roughly the same as the copper writing material. Its characteristic is that the outline of the picture or character is chiseled into little protruding bead-like lines with a special chisel. The space does not need to be carved through, but is painted with pastels to create a golden, brilliant, Colorful picture.

Most of the themes of Foshan paper-cutting are loved by the working people, including flowers, birds, fish and beasts that convey good luck and good luck, as well as opera characters and folk stories that the masses love to hear and see. Such as "dragon", "phoenix", "carp", "peacock", "melons and fruits of the four seasons", "good fortune, wealth and longevity", "harmony of two immortals", "six kingdoms prime minister", "Tang Minghuang visited the Moon Palace" , "Chang'e flying to the moon", "Eight Immortals making trouble in the East China Sea", "Dragon Boat Race" and so on. The colors of copper chisel materials are mainly pink, rose red, pink blue, red and white, etc., which are harmonious and eye-catching. The lining colors of the copper lining are mainly orange-red, pink, sophora yellow, mustard yellow, purple, dark green and light blue, making the picture bright and harmonious.

Foshan paper-cutting plays an important role in local folk customs. Regardless of annual festivals, weddings and funerals, birthday sacrifices, social etiquette, and even people's daily necessities, children's toys like to use paper-cutting for decoration. For example, during the Spring Festival, every house has a horizontal inscription "Five Blessings Come to the Door" on the lintel. Under the horizontal inscription, five copper-lined paper with the word "Fu" is pasted to spend money; the gods, ancestors, gate officials, land, kitchen god, well god, etc. are placed on the left and right. A pair of "golden flowers" are inserted in the upper corners; in the past, there was a gold flower shop in Foshan, and the business was prosperous. The golden flower of the great god has two or three layers. Each layer is made of copper chiseled paper and is framed by a wooden frame in the middle. The lower layer is large and the upper layer is small, giving it a three-dimensional effect. The golden flower is also decorated with pompoms, which is very eye-catching. . Most of the patterns include a golden melon top, a lotus seat, and boys on the left and right in the middle to attract wealth. The gold flowers used by other household gods are roughly the same. The ancestor gods use medium ones, and other gods use small ones, which also range from one to two layers. For wedding celebrations, all gift boxes and gifts are decorated with paper-cut stickers; during the Chinese Valentine's Day in July, women They use paper-cutting to decorate fruit plates, incense tables, candlesticks, and the bowls for tributes are also covered with paper-cutting. Girls carefully make winter melon lanterns, sesame boats, grapefruits, etc., as well as various figures, all of which are decorated with paper-cutting. Usually, the paper-cutting used in the Qiqiao Festival is also one of the items for girls to compete in their skills. Firecracker packaging is decorated with paper-cuts, cigarette bags, tea baskets (for holding teapots), rice jars, and even eyeglass cases. People like to use paper-cuts for decoration.

In addition, sacrificial objects are often used. According to Foshan custom, seven "sevens" are required for funerals, and a large number of sacrifices must be burned for each "seven", especially "three sevens". The items burned include gold mountains, silver mountains, gold bridges, silver bridges, large houses and their furnishings, clothes and shoes, etc. These paper products are all decorated with paper cuts. For example, the surface and corners of cabinets are decorated with paper cuts, and even handkerchiefs are decorated with paper cuts.

The colorful folk customs of Foshan have promoted the development of paper-cutting, and the development of paper-cutting technology has given Foshan folk customs more local characteristics.