An introduction to Zhuang folk paper-cutting

The Zhuang people are the descendants of the ancient "Baiyue people". The Zhuang peoples paper-cuttings in the south-central and southwest areas of Guangxi often have images of little red men of various shapes, either "riding for hunting" or "beating drums and singing". The image is simple and vivid, which is quite similar to the murals on Huashan Cliff.

Sacrificial paper-cutting is a major category of paper-cutting among ethnic minorities in Guangxi. Several Zhuang talismans for curing diseases and misfortunes displayed in the Guangxi Museum include two groups of gods and men, each group of four people, with both hands raised upright in front of the gods. During the completion, the main manuscript is usually cut out of gold and silver paper and mounted on a door-paper-like substrate cut out of red paper, making it look mysterious and solemn. Guangxis various ethnic groups are especially rich in paper-cutting for children, which originates from the long-standing worship of the Flower Mother. The historical records of the Qing Dynasty, "Guangdong Xinyu", Volume 6, "The King of Flowers' Parents" record: "When the Yue people pray for a child, they must go to the parents of the King of Flowers. There is a congratulatory message saying, white flowers for boys and red flowers for girls. So on the eve of the wedding, all relatives go to send flowers. "King of Flowers, also called Mother of Flowers, Mother of Flowers, Mother of Flowers, is the fertility god of ethnic minorities in the south.

The Zhuang, Songlao and Yao people in Guangxi all have similar myths and legends. These national child-praying rituals are carried out during wedding ceremonies and annual customs. At that time, paper-cuts such as flowers for Goddess of God, children-seeking symbols, and the reunion of seven children are cut. The flower tower, flower branches, and sedan chairs in the child-praying ceremony are also made with paper-cuts and paper ties. .