Protection of core skills in folk paper-cutting in Yu County
The productive approach we advocate today to protect intangible cultural heritage is proposed in response to the "changing with the times" of traditional handmade craftsmanship. However, how to balance the contradiction between variability and immutability in the protection of intangible cultural heritage and grasp the scale of variability and immutability is the key to the problem. Lu Pintian’s idea of ??“maintaining the rheology of traditional skills without ‘losing’ its core technology and humanistic connotations, and avoiding the degradation and deformation of its technical ontology and technical form” is crucial.
In order to protect the "core skills" of a certain traditional hand-made craft, the first thing to solve is how to identify them. We know that usually the characteristics of a traditional craft are sometimes determined by the uniqueness of the material, sometimes by the unique process, sometimes by the bizarre style, and sometimes it is all determined by the superb skills and techniques of the craftsman. . Whether it is materials, craftsmanship, decoration or techniques, there is a relatively stable ideology behind it. Behind those handicraft skills that can last for hundreds or even thousands of years, there must be unique humanistic values ??to support them. It can be seen that this kind of skill that determines the characteristics of a certain handicraft and forms humanistic value is called "core skill".
Yuxian County, Hebei Province is known as the "Hometown of Paper-cutting in China", and its paper-cutting art is a shining pearl in folk art. Among the various types of folk paper-cutting in the country, Yuxian paper-cutting is the only pointillist paper-cutting that mainly uses intaglio engraving. Yuxian paper-cutting is one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection projects. Its knife carving and dot dyeing techniques make it unique from other folk paper-cuttings. In particular, the point-dyeing process gives Yuxian paper-cutting a brightly colored and strong artistic effect, which is unique in the Chinese paper-cutting industry. The unique knife carving technique of Yuxian paper-cutting is different from other folk paper-cutting techniques that use scissors to make it. In addition, there is a popular saying among paper-cutting artists in Yu County that "three points are carved and seven points are dyed", which shows the importance of this skill. The traditional Yuxian paper-cuts made with unique knife carving and dotting techniques are rich in color.It plays its artistic function of exaggerating the festive festive atmosphere and has the humanistic value of local traditional folk customs. Knife carving and dotting techniques have become the "core skills" of Yuxian paper-cutting production technology. Nanzhangzhuang Village in Yu County is a representative production base for paper-cutting production in Yu County. In recent years, many paper-cutting factories producing Yuxian paper-cutting have emerged. These paper-cutting factories have got rid of the original crude production methods of individual workshops and moved towards large-scale enterprises. . In the process of industrialization, single-color paper-cuts in modern handicraft paper-cuts were mass-produced, and stippling paper-cuts in modern handicraft paper-cuts were produced in small quantities, but the traditional Yuxian paper-cuts, that is, window grilles, were stopped. It is worthy of recognition to inherit and develop the traditional knife-carving technology, innovate the traditional dyeing technology, and produce modern handicraft paper-cuts; but it is not a wise move to stop using the traditional dyeing technology and stop making traditional paper-cuts. In this way, the knife carving skills are protected and developed invisibly, but the dotting skills are ignored. In fact, part of the core skills of Yu Countys traditional paper-cutting production skills are gradually lost. In contrast, Duji Paper-cut Factory, located in Taipingzhuang Village, Yuzhou Town, Zhangjiakou County, Hebei Province, continues to use the local traditional individual family workshop production method. The factory is developing products, actively exploring markets, and has created a promising new path. Factory director Du Jinbin realized that if the paper-cutting factory wants to survive and develop, it needs to have its own characteristics and must create its own specialty products.
Since 2006 and 2007, the factory has successfully developed original color-printed paper-cuts. A pair of colored paper-cuts is composed of three or four paper-cuts of different colors through hollowing out and superposition. The tools and techniques are all made using traditional production techniques. For example, the character theme can be divided into four layers: the characters face, clothes, decoration, and outline (usually black). Use knife carving techniques to carve the three layers of the characters appearance, clothes, and decorations in layers, and then use point-dyeing techniques. Each part is dotted with different colors. It is worth emphasizing that a single piece of paper-cutting is dotted with multiple colors. Finally, each dyed paper-cutting is stacked layer by layer in order, which makes the paper-cutting picture have a sense of hierarchy. , richer and more three-dimensional. The shapes of the paper-cut patterns are novel and unique, some are bright, some are vague, and the colors show subtle transitions, which are highly personalized and artistically rhythmic. It is understood that the sales situation of this kind of colored paper-cutting is very good, and it has been recognized and praised by people from all walks of life, which verifies its huge market space. At present, the paper-cutting factory is operating well and there is no competition. The director is full of confidence in the future development of the paper-cutting factory. At the same time, for the production of monochrome paper-cuts, the factory adheres to the principle of rare products being valued. For example, for the product "Portrait of Hu Jintao" once made, one piece was left for the customer after the production was completed, and the rest were destroyed. This is to prevent Misappropriated by others. An interview with factory director Du Jinbin revealed that Duji Paper-cutting Factory still needs to continue to introduce pattern design talents, strengthen marketing planning, and apply for patent protection on the existing basis. The strategic thinking shown by Duji Paper Cutting Factory is forward-looking and has found a way to continue and regenerate its core skills. It can be seen that economic development and the protection of traditional skills are not irreconcilable contradictions. On the contrary, in theToday, with the integration of economy, technology and market, the continuation and regeneration of traditional skills and culture must be better realized through market strategies. The experience of Duji Paper Cutting Factory tells us: mastering the "core skills" is equivalent to giving yourself the opportunity to create your own brand. The "core skills" cannot be easily lost. Once lost, it will deviate from the original intention of protecting traditional handicrafts in a productive manner. . The productive protection of traditional handicrafts of intangible cultural heritage focuses on protecting those traditional folk handicrafts that are on the verge of being lost. Therefore, when carrying out the protection of intangible cultural heritage, it is particularly necessary to carefully identify which are the "core skills" of folk handicrafts, and establish an awareness of the inheritance and protection of "core skills", so as to grasp the essential characteristics of this traditional production process.
