Totem art in Chinese folk paper-cutting

Totem basically refers to a system of beliefs and customs that exists between a group (usually a descendant group) and a certain type of object (usually a certain animal or plant) The mysterious or ritual relationship is recognized by a clan or tribe with the same blood relationship and then rises to the level of worship. The word "totem" comes from the transliteration of the Ojibwa dialect of the Algonquin tribe of North American Indians. In English, it is fixed as "Totem", and some people originally wrote it as "Totam" or "Dodaim". The first person to introduce the word "Totem" to Western academic circles was the British John Lang. There is still no generally accepted definition of totem in the academic community. However, the general outline still exists. To summarize carefully, it roughly has the following characteristics: 1. The social group of primitive people takes a certain animal or plant as its name, and believes that it is the ancestor of the group, or is related to it by blood. relation. 2. As totem ancestors, animals and plants are respected by members of the group and do not dare to harm, damage or kill them. Offenders will receive certain punishments. 3. Members of the same totem group can be regarded as a complete group, and they take the totem as their common belief. Body decoration, daily utensils, residences and graveyard decorations also adopt the same style, expressing the same totem belief. 4. When men and women reach the prescribed age, a totem entrance ceremony is held. The production and use of totems are manifestations of human visual ability. People give totems to express their beliefs, fears, desires and intoxications. Totems are the earliest visual cultural forms of natural objects (including living and inanimate objects) in nature that appear in human eyes. When this kind of totem appears as a symbol in a work of art, due to aesthetic and performance needs, there will be some changes between the totem and the original object, and the totem symbol will also have some mysterious symbolic implications. As clans or tribes separate and gather, totem symbols also undergo corresponding changes.

In modern society, areas where paper-cut art is developed are often economically backward or remote villages. In these areas, paper-cutting placesThe content of the performance often retains more or less traces of primitive totem worship. The evolution of the dragon totem is long and complicated. As the symbol of the emperor and China, its image is a complex. After a complex evolution process, the dragon image has traces of historical deformation. From the comparison of this set of pictures, we can see that the painted pottery dragon-figure decoration in the Majiayao culture is the image of a "human-faced dragon". The "half-man, half-animal" image in the Bronze Age has disappeared and become a complete "snake body". In the feudal era, the characteristics of the dragon were further separated from the human appearance. Today, it has become a complex image with antlers, tiger eyes, lion nose, cow lips, eagle claws, fish scales, and snake body. Therefore, Mr. Suliandi believes that "the characteristics of the human body have been primitive, so that the 'human face' has the attribution of a 'drawing symbol'... This shows that the symbols and signs that the ancestors used to imbue the human body with divine power were first of all designed to respond to the information of the times. The sequence of induction is from the head and face to the body, and the overall symbolic concept of this mythological symbol is obtained." As a symbol of totem, the dragon has the function of magical changes. It can fly in the sky, dive deep into the abyss, and has the ability to control rain. responsibilities. It can be said that the dragon totem is the life symbol of the Chinese nation. Then, it is obvious that the dragon works represented in the paper-cut works have a symbolic connotation of the dragon.

Among the totems of the Chinese nation, the tiger and the toad are probably one of the earliest totems spread. "The image of the tiger, according to Mr. Liu Yaohans research, originated from the totems of the ancient Qiangrong people who mainly focused on hunting... Fuxi is an ancient totem. The totem name of the Qiang Rong Tiger clan." The tigers physical characteristics are strong and pleasing to the eye, its roar is loud, and its power shocks the mountains and fields. From the perspective of artistic modeling, the shape of tiger symbols generally emphasizes dynamics. In current paper-cutting, there are many themes of tiger images. From the collection of paper-cutting patterns, we can see that the symbol "王" on the tigers head is more eye-catching. This work is exaggerated in shape, pursuing spiritual resemblance, and is full of energy. And we can feel the momentum and awe that the tiger totem brings to us from the tiger talisman. Toad is also one of the early totems, and the original intention of toad worship may be its powerful reproductive function. The image of a toad and its round belly symbolize the powerful supernatural reproductive power. The complex patterns on the body can play a decorative role. These patterns that are in line with folk aesthetics can also bring people closer to humans. Since the toad is a symbolic symbol, it can be flexibly used by paper-cutting artists. Toads are generally called frogs among the people, and the people have a special favor for frogs. "When asked about the meaning of their frog image, some old ladies clearly said that frog means baby. The transformation of the frog image from the natural ugliness of a toad and frog into a sacred and friendly beauty cannot be accomplished overnight. .It undoubtedly has its roots in primitive mythology,The strong tradition of collective representation of totem concepts was gradually completed in the course of national cultural history several years ago. ”