The application of Ansai paper-cutting in daily life
Ansai paper-cutting to make wall flowers
Wall flowers are also called "Kang surround flowers". They are usually posted on the walls at the corners of the Tukang. They have rich themes and beautiful patterns. They can beautify the Tukang, block dust on the wall, and are convenient for Lying on the kang and admiring it before going to bed, it is really beautiful and practical.
Decoration patterns for religious and superstitious activities
People in northern Shaanxi attach great importance to festivals. Every New Year and festival, I would cut a door curtain and stick it on the shrine. It is beautiful and sacred. In terms of the content of the patterns, the commonly used ones include Guanqian, Yuntou Fulianwanzi, fish, chicken, horse, pig, stove dog and gatekeeper doll, etc. The content is rich and the styles are diverse. In addition, Ansai’s door god paper-cuts, house-keeping tigers, soul-calling paper figures, and bun dolls symbolizing the gods of protection and fertility are all widely circulated. Although it is a religious and superstitious activity, the artistic style is very unique and has certain artistic value for studying local customs and culture and the characteristics of paper-cutting. For example, the work "Zhujiu Doll" by Gao Rulan, a famous Ansai paper-cutting artist, is a wonderful folk art treasure.
Making embroidery patterns for shoe soles, pillowcases, quilt covers, etc.
Every year during the winter leisure time, Ansai’s Qiao Po, Aunt and Jun ladies get busy. Five or six of them sat around the hot kang, first cutting out patterns, then making shoe soles, embroidering pillowcases, etc. Although it is just a sample of the paper-cut pattern, it is still vivid, clever and interesting.
