The national spirit in Chinese folk paper-cutting
Behind the symbolic connotation of paper-cut art is a straightforward, optimistic, positive, and enterprising spirit of self-improvement. A large number of paper-cut works not only reflect the awareness of life, but also often show strong optimism and enterprising spirit. "Project or transfer ones own personality and feelings into the object in perception, making it a carrier of ones inner pursuit of happiness, thereby being convinced of ones own power."
"Picture of Cattle Plowing" Shaanxi Bai Fenglan
Paper-cutting artists have their own simplicity and simplicity. The firmness and perseverance shown in their works are the outstanding traditions and virtues of the Chinese nation. Among the paper-cutting works, there are almost no paper-cutting works that reflect pessimism and world-weariness, but most of them express the positive and optimistic mental state and the spirit of self-improvement of how the general public pursues wealth in poverty, pursues joy in pain, and pursues relief in bad circumstances. .
"Sanniang Goddess" Shanxi Su Lanhua
"The Book of Changes" says: "Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman strives for self-improvement." The paper-cut pattern "Cow Plowing Picture", the Miao myth paper-cut "Brother and Sister Opening up Wasteland", etc., while describing the optimism and enterprising spirit of the hardworking and dedicated people, also educate People should be diligent and willing to bow down and contribute, which reflects a sense of drive and impetus; "Sanniang Guozi" also hopes to teach children to become successful, embodying an enterprising spirit; "Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate" expresses the high spirit of self-motivation; it is based on myths and legends Paper-cut works such as "Nuwa Mending the Sky", "Dayu Controlling the Floods", "Houyi Shooting the Sun", "The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountain", "What Detail of a Heroines Work", etc. all inspire generations of Chinese people to strive for self-improvement., not afraid of hardships and dangers; "Cockscomb" uses symbolic techniques, and behind it is the paper-cutting artists hope that family and friends can have the enterprising spirit of self-improvement; Panchang, Ruyi, Fangsheng, meaning auspiciousness; Plum blossoms are divided into five petals, which is a metaphor for " The five blessings of "Fu, Lu, Longevity, Joy, and Wealth"; successive years of surplus, six months in spring, abundant harvests, long life and wealth. Combining fish and chicken in one picture symbolizes "luck and surplus", bats, fat pigs, ingots, etc. The combination symbolizes "lucky pigs and treasures", etc. The symbolic meaning of these works can be quickly understood and accepted by the general public, expressing peoples good wishes for a prosperous life. In addition, in terms of the use of color, the coloring of paper-cuts is generally dominated by a single color of red, which also gives people a positive and optimistic psychological feeling.
"Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate" Laiwu Anonymous
In short, paper-cut art embodies the natural needs of life and strong optimism and enterprising spirit. It is to face life with an optimistic and positive mental outlook, and to be able to face all the happiness and suffering in life, and to show the longing for a better life and an ideal society in peace.
"Dayus Control of Floods" Wang Lanpan, Shaanxi
