The metaphorical forms in the complete collection of Chinese folk paper-cut patterns
Mr. Wen Yiduo has a very insightful discussion on the expression method of metaphor in the article "Speaking of Fish". He said: "A metaphor does not need to be explained, it is a comparison of poetry", "A metaphor is used to explain something else." One thing is used to explain something that could have been explained more clearly. Metaphor and metaphor are opposites, because both methods are roundabout. Using another thing to explain one thing is often confused by people. Get up." It can be seen from this that the ultimate purpose of metaphor is to let people know, but in this process, due to the transfer of cultural background, peoples expression habits have changed from straightforward to implicit. In folk paper-cut combination modeling, metaphor is the most common expression language. Common people often use metaphors, allusions or metonymy to express a beautiful meaning or symbolize a special connotation in a group of pictures.
Most of the traditional patterns we see most often in folk weddings are used as metaphors for themes related to marriage, love, and childbirth and reproduction, such as:
Metaphor of men and women: In the creation process of folk paper-cutting, people often choose some animals and plants to metaphorize men and women: such as cats, tigers, fish, birds, chickens, and butterflies to represent men, chrysanthemums, lotus, peonies, and frogs , plates, bowls, and bottles are metaphors for women and pregnant women. In addition to being similar in external form, they also reflect a certain tendency of consistency in the inner emotions of folk artists (for more information, please see: Reproduction Culture in Yu County Paper-cutting) .
Metaphor of love: In some traditional stylized shapes, mandarin ducks, flying swallows, and lotus flowers are used to symbolize the love and eternal union between husband and wife; lilies, walnuts, etc. are used to symbolize the eternal union of newlyweds. In addition, there are also combinations of shapes such as "fish playing with lotus", "chicken playing with toad", "phoenix playing with peony", "bangs playing with golden toad", etc. to imitate human dynamic love gestures, using "fish" and "lotus" play, "chicken" and "toad" play, etc. to refer to men and women in human society“play", a man and a woman are in love and loyal, and the paper-cut scenes are full of fun.
Metaphor of He Ni: The original meaning of He Ni is to cut the gourd into two scoops, divide them into two parts, pull them together with a thread, and then combine the two scoops into one. The two scoops are combined into one gourd to symbolize the union of husband and wife, that is, The combination of Fuxi and Nuwa. The prototype of the popular "button bowl" in folk paper-cutting also refers to the gourd. The two bowls interlock and become one. The top is yang, heaven, male, and male; the bottom is yin, earth, female, and female. The unity of up and down means the union of yin and yang, the union of heaven and earth, the union of men and women, and the union of males and females. The paper-cutting of happy flowers, which means "Hexin", has become an indispensable decoration for ordinary people to decorate their bridal chambers.
Metaphor of having children: pomegranates, gourds, grapes, lotus pods, etc. are often used on paper-cutting pictures to symbolize having children. People like to choose those multi-seeded plants as symbols of human motherhood, and use plants to express the phenomenon of giving birth to children, such as "lotus gives birth to noble son", "duli opens a hundred seeds", "gourd gives birth to son", etc. These traditional paper-cut patterns are in It has been passed down from generation to generation in the etiquette and customs of ordinary people, expressing peoples wishes for a newlywed couple to have many children and a full family (for more information, please refer to: "Maternal Feelings" in Shaanxi Traditional Folk Paper-cutting).
In our country’s traditional folk paper-cutting, we retain a rich and diverse combination of patterns that are metaphors for marriage, love, and reproduction. People’s inner dreams and passion accumulated in their hearts are expressed with the help of natural objects, and “fake objects are used to metaphor people (things).” ” method of expression. Mr. Wen Yiduo talked about the metaphor phenomenon in Chinese folk culture: "In Chinese language, especially in folk songs, there are many examples of argots. The argot of using 'fish' instead of 'pair' or 'couple' is nothing more than "One of them", "...the fish represents a man, and the lotus represents a woman. Talking about the play between fish and lotus is actually equivalent to talking about the play between men and women."
This type of combined patterns with hidden metaphors in folk paper-cutting allows people to freely express content and connotations that are difficult to express in real language. At the same time, it also makes paper-cutting works a very interesting and meaningful work. form".
