Chinese folk paper-cutting often takes the reproduction of life as its connotation
Chinese national culture has always been known for attaching importance to the survival value of human life. "The Book of Changes" puts forward the ontology of life based on "the great virtue of heaven and earth is life" and "life is called Yi". In the minds of ordinary people, the reproduction of new life in the family has been the most important thing since ancient times. Therefore, when they express their wishes through artistic means, the thoughts of care and praise for life are always embedded in folk paper-cutting. Traditional folk paper-cut patterns use similes, metaphors, assonances, personification and other artistic techniques to endow animals, plants and all things in the universe with rich life emotions.
The traditional ideas and concepts of attaching importance to life are particularly prominent in paper-cuttings related to marriage, childbirth, and marriage. "Gourd with One Hundred Seeds", "Gourd with Seeds", and "Pure with One Hundred Seeds" are homophones and metaphors. The technique uses "seeds" with vitality and rooting on the ground instead of "zi", and uses living multi-seeded gourds with strong vitality (more reading: Gourd Worship in Chinese Folk Paper-cut Art), pumpkins, and pomegranates to symbolize many seeds. Many grandchildren, life continues to multiply, which originates from the "continuous melons and melons, the first birth of the people" in "The Book of Songs·Daya·Mian"; in addition, in "Dragon and Phoenix Present Auspiciousness", "Monkey Eating Peach", "Magpies Making Plum Blossoms" In common patterns such as "Fish Playing with Lotus" and "Fish Playing with Lotus", monkeys, deer, magpies, and fish are used to symbolize Yang, and peach, grass, plum, and lotus are used to symbolize Yin. The moral of the picture is the combination of Yin and Yang, and endless life.
The theme of love and praise for life is also reflected in paper-cutting in the form of decoration, daily rituals, and annual blessings. When old people celebrate their birthdays, they should cut "Five Blessings Holding a Longevity" and "Deer and Crane Spring Together" to symbolize the evergreen tree of life; when giving gifts, they should affix them with fireworks to wish for a happy and healthy life; to pray for evil and get rid of evil, they should cut "Zhuji Doll" with two chickens on their heads. , "Chicken" (auspicious), is still a symbol of blessing life with peace and auspiciousness; even in solemn events such as funerals, patterns such as "Ten Thousand Words Keep the Head" must be cut (recommended reading: The Complete Collection of Chinese Folk Paper-cut Patterns Swastika), with hope for life’s resurrection from death,The blessing of ascension and reincarnation.
