The theme of Chinese folk paper-cutting

The themes of Chinese folk paper-cutting can be roughly divided into the following categories.

(1) Customs and habits

This type of paper-cutting is mainly based on some living habits and customs that people have retained for many years. For example, when young people get married, they have to put up red wedding flowers. Most of them have festive and auspicious contents such as dragons showing auspiciousness, fish playing with lotuses, durians blooming with a hundred seeds, happy brows, mandarin ducks playing in the water, etc. These contents are used to express the familys affection for the newlyweds. Blessings, expressing happiness in marriage, etc. In addition, during the Spring Festival, every household must put up hanging notes and window grilles. Tropical soul pans used in funeral customs, "paper buns" used to worship the deceased, etc.

(2) Labor scenes

This type of paper-cutting is mainly created based on specific labor scenes such as peoples spring plowing, summer hoeing, autumn harvest, and winter storage. This also includes the poultry that people usually raise, such as chickens, ducks, and geese; livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, and cats; and the grains that people grow. Through the specific depictions of these scenes and animals and plants, on the one hand, it expresses the working peoples love for their lives and the fruits of their labor, and on the other hand, it also expresses their yearning for beautiful things and their pursuit of beauty.

(3) Myths and legends

This type of paper-cut pattern is mainly based on some folklore and fairy tales. Paper-cut works are created through the authors understanding of the text content and artistic processing. In addition, paper-cut works of opera characters are also an integral part of this type of theme. These paper-cut works fully express the authors love and hate, sympathy and hatred, praise and criticism.

(4) Scenic and scenic spots

The famous mountains and rivers of the motherland, cultural relics, classical buildings, etc. all provide good creative themes for paper-cutting authors to express their emotions and express their feelings in the scenery. The majority of paper-cutting authors, especially modern paper-cutting authors, use this type of paper-cutting to create Expressing his love for the great rivers and mountains of the motherland, he also cultivated his own sentiments and enriched his knowledge in all aspects.