A detailed explanation of Fujian folk paper-cutting art
Pucheng is the representative of folk paper-cutting in northern Fujian. "Jianhuapo" and "Jianhuasao" are the nicknames Pucheng people give to paper-cutting artists. Whenever there are banquets during Chinese New Years, weddings, birthday celebrations, moving to a new home, ancestral sacrifices, etc., Pucheng people will use paper-cutting to set off the festive atmosphere. Most of them decorate the gifts with paper-cuts, and cut and carve them into various patterns according to the size of the gifts, ranging from large to square-inch decorations.
Why is Pucheng paper-cut so popular? Pucheng is located at the northernmost tip of Fujian, bordering Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi. Historically, it was the activity center of the Minyue ethnic group. During the Western Jin Dynasty, a large number of people migrated, bringing with them the art of paper-cutting. After thousands of years of integration and evolution, Pucheng paper-cutting culture was formed that was compatible with the north and the south and had distinctive regional characteristics. Historically, there is a saying that "if Pucheng is harvested, rice will go to Fuzhou". People live and work in peace and contentment, so peoples lives are relatively prosperous. This is also the basis for the popularity of folk paper-cutting in Pucheng.
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The soil and water support the people. From a historical comparison, paper-cutting in southern Fujian probably began in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. Most of the ancestors of southern Fujian originated from the northern Central Plains. According to research by linguist Professor Lin Lunlun, Hokkien belongs to the "Minnan language family" and originated from the authentic ancient Chinese language in the Central Plains east of Luoyang. It is one of the oldest language families in China so far. Quanzhou paper-cutting is the most representative of the folk paper-cutting in southern Fujian. This folk custom has even spread to the residents of Taiwan who speak the Hokkien language family, confirming the historical kinship between Taiwan and the coastal areas of mainland China, both in terms of ethnic origin and the origin of folk culture.
Eastern Fujian paper-cutting is mainly represented by Zhe Rong. Its style is simple, deep and rough, which is in sharp contrast to southern Fujian paper-cutting, but is very similar to the folk paper-cutting style of northern Shaanxi. So, how did the culture of the Central Plains spread to the coast of eastern Fujian and penetrate into the soul of a small city in the far south? Zhelong was a territory of Yangzhou in ancient times, it belonged to Yue in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it belonged to Minzhong County in the Qin Dynasty. After the Tang Dynasty, due to wars and other reasons, refugees from the Central Plains moved into Zhelong and settled. In a relatively closed geographical environment, the culture of the Central Plains was combined with the new living environment to form and maintain a unique regional culture. Zherongs folk paper-cutting also became famous.imprinted on this culture.
The form of paper-cutting is subject to folk customs and has long been loved by the masses. Its strong vitality comes from the living and spiritual needs of working people. People often cover boxes, cages, pillows, quilts and altars with paper-cuts, from weddings, childrens full moon to "birthday gifts", etc. Especially when the Spring Festival is approaching, farmers in mountainous areas decorate their windows and paste them on cupboards, stove sides and ceramics. On the vessel, pray for blessings and ward off evil spirits. Folk paper-cutting in southern Fujian is mostly used for ceremonial gift flowers, offering decals for sacrificial activities, and decorative lanterns for traveling gods games. In order to pray for good weather, safe sailing, abundant harvests, and happiness all year round, various customs and habits have been formed in history, including worshiping gods, worshiping ancestors, giving ghosts, and traveling to gods and games. People seek livelihood from the sea and are in great awe of the sea. The same purpose is to pray for good luck and decorate a festive atmosphere, but the purpose is very different.
It is also the different history of changes and folk culture of Fujian, the outstanding people and the accumulation of splendid and excellent traditional culture, that have created the different and rich Fujian folk paper-cutting in Fujian.
