Themes and Characteristics in Northeastern Folk Paper-cutting
The folk paper-cutting art of Northeast China is closely related to the shamanism widely believed in by the people. The paper-cutting themes in the Northeast region bear the original cultural remnants of earth worship and ancestor worship in clan society. Shamanism is a primitive polytheistic religion originating from matrilineal clan society. It plays an important role in the lives of Northeastern people. In order to visualize the many gods, the ancestors of the Manchu people began to use animal skins, fish skins, and tree barks long ago. Other items were cut and carved into idols for worship.
The folk paper-cut window grilles in Northeast China are represented by Jilin and Heilongjiang. The theme includes the ancient custom of the Manchu people worshiping their ancestors - the "grandmother-in-law (god)" wearing flags and riding boots. "Shaman" in Tungus language means a shaman who communicates between humans and gods. Shamanism worships more than 160 gods of heaven, earth, family and ancestors, commonly known as "Laoni people (gods)" (Tani means old lady, that is, old lady god).
This kind of Manchu "scratching bun doll" also has a symmetrical frontal shape, with its limbs spread out, hands hanging down, and fingers spread apart. It is just wearing Manchu clothing. This kind of paper-cutting is a three-dimensional paper-cutting with two front and back pieces that can stand and be placed. The head is cut separately, the facial features are engraved, there is a long neck that can be inserted into the clothes through the collar, and the mans long braid can be folded behind the back. There are also male and female "grandmothers (gods)", but there are more females than males. Manchu totem gods worship turtles and fish. Some of the "Jie Lao God" paper-cuts include two turtles and two fishes to protect the familys safety and the reproduction of their descendants. In addition to the separate paper figurines, there are also "hand-holding dolls" from northern Shaanxi, which are witchcraft paper-cuts made of seven little ones standing in front of each other and holding hands, which are used when newborns cry all night.
If the sick child is a male, his hair is cut into a bun, and if he is a female, his hair is cut into a bun. At night, draw a pot of ash fire from the stove kang, place it on the ground next to the childs kang, and buckle the paper man under the pot. In the morning, open the pot and look. If the paper man is burning, it means that the "night star" (night devil) is trapped. Pour the ashes outside.
