Graphic characteristics of Shaanxi traditional folk paper-cutting
When we see Shaanxi paper-cuts with different shapes, have we ever thought about why there are typical animals, fish, frogs, and birds in the shapes that have been preserved to this day? It can be seen that these animal images are the basic shapes of Shaanxi traditional paper-cut patterns. In order to study their historical significance, I consulted historical materials, and we saw the corresponding prototype from the Yangshao culture in Shaanxi. The birth of human beings has a history of millions of years. During this long process, we have been practicing and developing ourselves in the ecological environment of nature. The most important issue is survival. However, in the harsh living environment, the foundation of human survival is very weak, and we will face the attack of death at all times. Due to the limited ability of human beings to understand nature, they are only in the exploratory stage of the ancient world. From the cultural relics bone harpoons, fish hooks, and stone net pendants unearthed in Banpo, it can be inferred that the Shanghai River was rich in water and rich in fish at that time. When our ancestors migrated along the rivers and opened up new territories, the fish in the water provided much-needed living materials for the hungry and cold people. As a result, fish, frogs, and even river animals formed an inseparable flesh-and-blood relationship with the ancients. The fish-shaped patterns of the Banpo Culture period became widely popular in the Yangshao Culture sites in the Wei River Basin. Shaanxis rich geographical environment has nurtured the Yanhuang tribe of China as well as the Xia, Shang, Zhou and Qin tribes to create a splendid primitive and totem culture. Although during the Song, Yuan and especially after the Ming Dynasty, due to natural and man-made disasters and serious damage to the ecological balance, Shaanxi formed a long-term traffic closure and cultural closure. But it is this special historical and humanistic emotion that allows the rich and ancient folk culture to be preserved in large quantities, even if the river water level drops and the fish decreases, thus disappearing from peoples main life.
Why did fish and frogs often appear in the daily lives of people in ancient China? We know that they have extremely strong reproductive capabilities. It was precisely because of their ability that humans at that time worshiped them. and admiration. In the traditional folk paper-cutting of Shaanxi, there are not only separate fish and frog shapes, but also many shapes that combine human faces with these two animals. So how do we understand this unreasonable shape? The problem has further evolved. Human beings are developing. society is improving. When human beings have feelings of admiration and worship,It will have a psychological effect, hoping that this power will come to you. I hope that the divine power of animals and plants will protect me and make up for my physical and psychological shortcomings. Clan gradually emerged, and as a symbol of group strength, totem worship emerged. Totem, as a symbol of protection, could be purely animal ancestor worship at the lower stage. But if a totem is to serve as a clan emblem and become the clans flag, it needs to get rid of the original form of totem worship and enter the personified expression of the totem. l5] The human-mask and fish patterns we see in a large number of painted pottery unearthed in Shaanxi indicate exactly this point. The patterns used by ancient humans to combine fish and humans are the personification of fish and the energy given to human reproduction. The fish with the human face and fish pattern is no longer just an object of fishing and hunting in nature, but appears as a clan god. Most scholars believe that fish patterns on human faces are related to fertility worship. These overlapping patterns of mermaids and fishes reflect the special relationship between humans and fish at that time, and reflect the distant era of backward technology. Humanitys understanding of all things in nature was actually "relying on humanized nature". human feeling” and “feeling humanity”.
This way, the mysterious prototypes of giant salamanders and frogs in Shaanxi traditional paper-cutting can be unveiled. In northern Shaanxi and Guanzhong, there are still many traditional patterns of superimposed mermaids, such as "Baby Fish", "Merman-headed Fish", "Multiple Fish", "Mermaid", "Fish Frog", etc. This "personified fish" pattern not only exists in paper-cuts, but is often used as a traditional pattern embroidered on womens skirts and childrens wraps. Its connotation shows the relics of the totem consciousness of primitive clan society.
In the traditional paper-cutting art of Linchuang County, Shaanxi Province and even the Guanzhong area, the shapes that are still circulating today, although not beautiful, reflect a mysterious awareness of fertility worship. Among the painted pottery excavated from the Jiangzhai site, an early primitive village that became a "toad spider" or "frog", there is the earliest image of a "frog" in my country. They show a historical organic connection. The Yangshao text at the northern foot of Linchangli Mountain is the totem image of a toad spider. There is a historical organic connection between them.
Moreover, in northern Shaanxi, there are also images such as "soul-calling dolls", "Wudao dolls", "sore-healing dolls", "melon seed dolls", and "bun-grabbing dolls" that have the power to drive away diseases and eliminate disasters. These dolls are always arranged in a series, and the prototype of the same origin can also be found on the dancing pattern painted pottery basin unearthed in Sunjiazhai on Qinghai Avenue.
From the ruins six to seven thousand years ago, we discovered the origin of traditional paper-cut art modeling.Its sincerity and gentleness are the characteristics and imprint inherited from the matrilineal style culture, and it is also the deepest commemoration of maternal feelings!
