The cultural attributes of Luliang paper-cutting in Shanxi
Through Luliang paper-cutting art, we can see its cultural attributes. The Luliang culture reflected in paper-cutting is rich and colorful and worthy of our study and exploration. It is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. The national consciousness of Luliang paper-cutting. In the Luliang paper-cutting culture, there is the Luliang peoples own interpretation and understanding of nature, the distinctive personality of Luliang peoples simplicity and perseverance, and their ideals and beliefs in the continuous pursuit of a better life. The paper-cuts here use themes of the Yellow River, land, nature, people, and animals to express the emotions of the Luliang people themselves. Since ancient times, magnanimity, boldness and unabashedness have become part of the character of Luliang people and continue to this day. Cave dwelling culture has become an indispensable philosophical concept for Luliang paper-cutting. Paper-cutting is also a national element for Luliang people to communicate with each other and express their life attitude and survival awareness to achieve resonance.
2. The historical connotation of Luliang paper-cutting. Luliang is located in the middle of the Yellow River and is one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation. The word "Lüliang" has been recorded as early as in the book "Zizi": "Longmen has not been built, Luliang has not been dug, and the river flows out of Mengmen..." "Collection of Cultural Relics and Anecdotes" records: "Lüliang Mountain is also Guji Mountain. The book is Bone Ridge Mountain. The meaning of Bone Ridge is the same as Luliang. Lu means Bone Ridge." It is also recorded: "The name of Luliang has a long history. According to Lus Spring and Autumn Annals, Luliang was not developed yet, so there was a stone cutoff spot in the river. Today, there is this hanging cliff to the west of Shili, which is called Huangliang in the world. The stone is cut off from the water as a beam, and the big stone is in the water, and Yus hair can pass through it." A large number of exquisite bronzes of the Shang Dynasty were unearthed from Luliang Shilou, which shows that Luliang paper-cutting was influenced by Influence of original bronze patterns. A large number of Han portrait stones have been excavated in Lishi, Liulin and Zhongyang, and Luliang paper-cutting also bears the vigorous style of the Han Dynasty. Historically, northern ethnic minorities have continuously immigrated to Luliang. Luliang has retained many living habits and customs of ethnic minorities. These customs are subtly reflected in the folk paper-cutting art of Luliang. Luliang paper-cutting art has been condensed through history and passed down from generation to generation, forming a simple, vigorous and rough artistic style, and has become an important spiritual wealth in the Luliang area.
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Simple Shanxi Luliang paper-cut works
3. The folk connotation contained in Luliang paper-cutting. Paper-cutting has become a part of Luliang folk life. All major folk activities in Luliang are inseparable from paper-cutting. During festivals, women are busy cutting window grilles, door gods, hanging paper, hanging curtains, stove flowers, nave flowers, ceiling flowers and kang surround flowers, etc. The paper-cut patterns mainly include the characters "Fu", "Xi", lions, tigers, Zhongkui, cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, fish, deer, cranes, immortal figures, flowers and trees, etc., with red couplets. Doors, windows, skylights, heaven and earth kilns, cow and horse pens, chicken coops, pig nests, rollers, stone mills and trees in the yard are all decorated with red as the main color. Each paper-cut content has its relative pasting position, which is an unwritten rule. For example: Zhong Kui will not get on the kang, and a tiger will not get off the kang. During the festival, people admire, compare, and present paper-cuts to each other to see whose window grilles are the most beautiful, what their window grilles mean, and whose daughter-in-law is the most ingenious. Especially the children, they often compete with each other in a lively manner. When getting married, families have to invite the most famous local paper-cutting experts. The contents of the paper-cutting are mostly double happiness, dragon and phoenix, mandarin ducks, the zodiac signs of both men and women, as well as "sitting lotus doll", "xiwa", "lotus born noble son", "button" "Bowl", "Pomegranate gives birth to children", etc., to express the love between husband and wife, many children and grandchildren, and the good wishes of prosperity. There are also paper-cuttings with corresponding themes for birthday greetings, childrens full moon, childrens 100th day, etc. (Learn Paper-cutting for Kids: Paper-cutting Tutorial for Kids). Paper-cutting is also used among the people in the form of cloth art in door curtains, childrens clothes, school bags and other aspects, giving it a decorative meaning. Paper-cutting has become a carrier for people to communicate, etiquette, express emotions and place their hopes. It has been integrated into the spiritual life of Luliang people and reflects the vivid spiritual consciousness of Luliang people. 4. The religious spirit contained in Luliang paper-cutting. There are many paper-cuts of animal totems in Luliang, which are very similar to the pattern styles on Luliang bronzes, and are inextricably linked to the totem worship of ancestors. Since Luliang had many ethnic minorities living here in history, the tribes in the Yellow River Basin continued to merge with the northern ethnic minorities, forming religious concepts that believed in both Buddhism and Taoism. There are temples in almost every village in rural areas. Every time there are major festivals, weddings and funerals, there is a tradition of worshiping ancestors, temples, and Buddhas, and paper-cutting is indispensable. For example, in Shilou, when an elderly person dies in the family, no matter whether the family is rich or poor or everyone is a small family, they must hold a chanting ceremony to save the soul of the deceased. Paper-cut hangings are hung in the "sutra altar" for worshiping the Buddha. In front of the deceaseds mourning hall is almost a sea of ??paper-cuts, including paper-cut covers, various paper money, paper boys and girls, etc. The "Jingqiao" passing by when sending the spirit is also hung with various paper-cut figures, paper hangings, paper nets, etc. The second day of the second lunar month is the "evil day", folk use paper-cutting to get rid of evil, and its content includes "awl and scissors to drive away evil", "gourd to lock the five poisons", etc. During the Dragon Boat Festival, there are paper-cut contents such as "roosters remove five poisons"; festivals such as Lantern Festival, Qingming, Qi Qiao, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Double Ninth Festival also have some paper-cuts, reflecting the imprint of the witchcraft activities of the ancestors of the Luliang people and embodying the religious spirit and religious spirit of the Luliang people. Understanding of heaven, earth, and people.
Author: Zhang Yunqi Shanxi Luliang Higher Vocational College
