Paper cutting is a traditional Chinese folk art that uses scissors or knives to cut patterns on paper, expressing people’s aspirations for a better life.
Regional Styles
- Northern Paper Cutting – Bold and vigorous, simple and vivid
- Southern Paper Cutting – Delicate and exquisite, graceful and elegant
- Shaanxi Paper Cutting – Simple and unsophisticated, full of local flavor
- Yangzhou Paper Cutting – Delicate and exquisite, known as “Yangzhou paper cutting”
Themes and Symbols
Paper cutting themes include flowers, birds, fish, insects, figures, and stories, symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, and happiness.